Paul Scholes says Arsenal had England’s answer to Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, he left for nothing

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Manchester United icon Paul Scholes just issued some remarkable praise about one former Arsenal player.

Scholes spent his career having Arsenal as Manchester United’s fierce rivals, maintaining some strong opinions about the Gunners.

Being one of the greatest midfielders to play in the Premier League, it’s unsurprising that a lot of the Englishman’s opinions on Arsenal focus on that area of the pitch.

Though Scholes isn’t a huge fan of Declan Rice, the Man United legend is an admirer of one former Gunner, whom he believes was up there with the very best during his playing days. 

• READ MORE: Paul Scholes has just named who he thinks is Arsenal’s greatest-ever player

Paul Scholes says Jack Wilshere was the closest England had to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric

On the latest episode of The Overlap, Scholes was asked about what he thinks about England’s current crop of midfielders, which is where Jack Wilshere came into the discussion.

Scholes admitted Rice isn’t his type of player during the debate, instead reserving praise for Wilshere, who he says is the last midfielder England had who could do ‘everything’.

“I don’t think we have that type of controlling midfield player that can do a bit of everything,” he said.

“We haven’t got a Toni Kroos or a Modric. I think probably a while ago, Jack Wilshere was probably the closest to being that type.”

Despite having a career that was derailed by injury, Wilshere’s impact at Arsenal hasn’t been forgotten, nor has his influence in the England squad.

The midfielder made 34 appearances for the Three Lions during his career, where he showed enough for Scholes to insist that no English midfielder has been able to match what Wilshere could do on his day since.

The injuries Jack Wilshere suffered at Arsenal 

Wilshere was loved by Arsene Wenger at Arsenal and is still adored by fans, with some still pained by how things ended for the two-time FA Cup winner.

Still only 33, Wilshere has turned to management after making the difficult decision to hang up his boots in 2022.

Injuries plagued the midfielder’s career, with his early retirement and leaving Arsenal as a free agent being one of the club’s greatest tragedies.

It is, however, understandable to see why Wilshere made the decision to call time on his playing career, as the Englishman suffered so much, particularly during his time at Arsenal.

Without injuries, it’s both heartbreaking and fascinating to envisage where Wilshere’s career would’ve taken him, being one of the finest English midfielders of his generation.