Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hits back at Roy Keane for calling Jack Wilshere ‘most overrated player on the planet’

Arsene Wenger has responded to former Manchester United captain Roy Keane’s comment’s that Jack Wilshere is the “most overrated player on the planet” following Arsenal’s 2-1 second-leg defeat to Ostersunds FK in the Europa League.

Arsenal still progressed to the last 16, winning 4-2 on aggregate, but were sloppy with Keane turning his criticisms on Wilshere, whose performances this season look set to earn him a new deal with the club.

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Speaking on ITV, he said: “The manager summed it up. No energy, no desire, you’re looking for your senior players to lead by example. I always think, when Wilshere’s your captain, to me, probably the most overrated player on the planet.

“And they got lucky with the result at the end of it. But if you start a game slowly, no matter how good you are, it’s hard to get going. You can’t just switch it on and off.”

Wilshere’s current deal expires in the summer but Wenger has previously said the Gunners will open talks with him about a new one after returning well from injury this season.

And while he admitted Wilshere struggled against Ostersunds FK, he insisted he still rates the 26-year-old very highly.

“It’s very difficult. I personally rate Jack very highly, after that you can have opinions,” Wenger said ahead of Sunday’s EFL Cup final against Manchester City.

“Jack was in a team last night that didn't perform well. Was it one of his best performances last night? Certainly not. But Roy Keane knows that can happen to everybody.”