Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
News
Should these West Ham and Arsenal stars be Euro 2016 contenders?
The Premier League season is fast nearing to an unfortunate end. With that however, comes the European Championships in the summer. Amid Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur’s rise, England coach Roy Hodgson has been given multiple new players to call upon. Considering this, let’s have a look at the six players that could be included in the squad for The Three Lions.
Mark Noble – West Ham
West Ham have had a superb season this year. The East London club will leave Upton Park and migrate down the road to the new, and seemingly cheap, Olympic Stadium.
Many feared that West Ham would suffer a massive drop this year, having sacked the ever reliable Sam Allardyce. Ex-Croatia manager, Slaven Bilic, however has not only guided West Ham through their last season at the Boleyn Ground, but looks set to take the club into Europe.
One of the key players for West Ham this season has been mark Noble. Although Payet and Lanzini command much of the attention – and rightly so – Mark Noble has been the steady, constant force in West Ham’s midfield. As per Squawka, Noble has made 33 appearances, scored five goals and registered four assists, and has arguably been of the best English midfielders in the League this year.
Unlike recent years, England seem to be lacking a strong bunch of central midfielders. If Hodgson plays in a 4-4-2 diamond or a 4-2-3-1, it is unclear who would occupy the deep midfielder position. Eric Dier and James Milner seem to be the only certain choices so far. While Milner is an underrated player, Mark Noble would be an excellent upgrade. Noble is an underrated passer, can also shoot, has the legs to go box-to-box, but can also be the tough tackling midfielder.
At 28 years old, it’s shocking that he hasn’t got a call up for England. Noble must go, if not for his quality, but for the lack of midfield options.
Jack Wilshere – Arsenal
The other central midfielder on the list; Jack Wilshere, is fighting to be included in the squad. The talented midfielder only recently returned to action following a long-term injury.
Capable of playing further up the pitch or as a deep-lying playmaker, Wilshere is arguably one of the most talented English players in the last ten years. In terms of skill level, Wilshere could walk into the starting line up, but this isn’t the debate surrounding the injury-prone Gunner. There are two questions that need to be asked when considering the Arsenal midfielder. Firstly, considering his injury record, should Wilshere go? Secondly, having only returned recently, does he really deserve to go ahead of others?
In terms of thinking toward the future, playing in the Euros is probably not wise for him. Having broken onto the scene as a young teenager, now 24, Wilshere has missed an absurd amount of matches. With two matches left before Hodgson announces his squad on 12th May, it is very possible that Wilshere might just do enough to prove his fitness for the Euro squad. In terms of his future career, it would be risky for Wilshere to possibly play three friendlies, go into the Euros and then come back for a full pre-season. A player with his injury record, it would be wise to finish the season and then have a full summer to get fit.
Wilshere may not deserve to go, but due to his talent, England will need him. My verdict is that Wilshere should indeed travel. England lack many central midfielders, Wilshere is one of the best around, but he must first prove his fitness.