Jack Wilshere admits his ‘biggest regret’ at Arsenal was because of player sold for £25m

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Jack Wilshere is a true Arsenal icon, despite the challenges he faced at the Emirates.

Everybody remembers watching a 19-year-old Wilshere star in the Champions League against Barcelona. 

The midfielder was the best on the pitch at the Emirates in a match where he came up against an engine room of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.

It was thought then that Arsenal had struck gold with Wilshere, but things didn’t go to plan, as injuries derailed the Englishman’s career, leading to an early retirement at 30. 

• READ MORE: Jack Wilshere claims Arsenal star who changed Arsene Wenger was the best he ever played with

Jack Wilshere reveals his biggest regret at Arsenal

Wilshere’s injury record was devastating, leading to the end of his Arsenal career.

While absences rocked the midfielder, injuries aren’t the biggest regret of his time in North London, which might surprise many.

Instead, Wilshere turned his attention to one of his former teammates, who held the keys to the 33-year-old’s ‘biggest regret’ in an Arsenal shirt.

“You had a good team with Cesc [Fabregas] in it, how good was he?” Wilshere was asked on The Obi One Podcast.

The former England international didn’t stutter with his answer, simply wishing he had more time to play alongside Cesc Fabregas. 

“I always say that’s one of my biggest regrets,” Wilshere admitted.

“I trained with him a lot from 16 to 20, but I broke into the team at 18 or 19, and I played with him for that year, and he left for Barcelona.

“One of my biggest regrets was that I didn’t play with him for longer, because he understood the game.”

Arsenal sold Fabregas for an upfront fee of £25m to Barcelona in 2011, letting their prized playmaker leave to fulfil his dream in Catalonia. 

For those back in North London, the news didn’t go down well, as fellow Gunner Andrey Arshavin admitted selling Fabregas was a ‘catastrophe’.

Wilshere’s record when playing with Cesc Fabregas

It’s no surprise that Wilshere yearned for Fabregas after his departure.

Arsene Wenger had a soft spot for Fabregas, nurturing the midfielder from a teen to a world-beater.

Wilshere just wanted to play alongside the masterful creator, and it’s no surprise as to why.

The two midfielders made only 32 appearances together at Arsenal, a period in which they lost only six times.

Fabregas and Wilshere maintained an average of 2.06 points per match together, but surprisingly, they never combined for a goal.

Wilshere will look back at many unanswered pleas from his career, with the biggest being Fabregas’ exit.