Irish Abroad: Wilshere heaps praise on Arter

“He is definitely up there with some of the midfielders I’ve played with.”

Jack Wilshere has reserved special praise for Harry Arter after the international’s star performance on Saturday.

Arter produced a man of the match performance for Bournemouth in the club’s 1-0 home win over Everton. Jon Motson described Arter’s performance as “one of the best midfield performances I’ve seen in a long time.”

The 26 year old assisted Junior Stanislas’ winner for the Cherries, and was unfortunate not to score himself after his shot from 20 yards clipped the outside of the post.

Wilshere, on loan from Arsenal, is the latest player to heap praise on Arter;

“I have played with some top midfielders but it says a lot about a player when you are not at a big club like Arsenal and you are putting in performances like that.

If he wants to, I’m sure he could go onto bigger clubs. But I’m sure he is enjoying his time at Bournemouth – the fans love him, the manager loves him and he’s got everyone’s respect at the club.

He is going to be important for us if we want to climb up the table.

You see with a player like Ross Barkley, Harry didn’t give him a second. He didn’t let him turn, he didn’t let him do his stuff and I’m sure if you ask Ross he will say they are the worst type of players to play against. You hate them.

You turn and he is there. You think you have beaten him and he comes back at you, so it is horrible to play against.”

Arter has been an important player for Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth as they’ve marched through the leagues, and he cost the Cherries just £500,000 in 2010.

Arter missed the Euros due to injury, but he will be aiming to play a key role in Martin O’Neill’s plans moving forward.

The former Woking midfielder has made an impressive start to the Premier League season, and despite not playing against Serbia, he will be in contention for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Moldova next month.

Does he deserve to start for Ireland?