Even Arsène Wenger, who would never publicly criticise a player, has specifically stressed that this is a “very important” year for his midfielder. Wilshere responded on Sunday like a man who has absorbed all the messages. His regression during the past two seasons has boiled down to a lack of sharpness. He has dwelled just too long on the ball and seemed to have lost that crucial acceleration in the first few metres that once allowed him to sprint away from opponents.