Arsene Wenger has hinted that he could offer Jack Wilshere a new contract to stay beyond summer 2018.
The 23-year-old has yet to feature for the Gunners this season due to the latest in a long line of ankle injuries.
But Wenger is determined to keep hold of him and insists he is likely to offer the England international a new deal despite his injury woes.
Wilshere still has two-and-a-half years left to run on his existing deal at the Emirates, and when asked about a fresh contract for the tenacious midfielder, Wenger said:
‘He has two years left and I want Jack to stay here.
‘He is a special case because he is a special talent, he comes out of the club and he is an England international.’
Wilshere certainly has the potential to be one of Europe’s finest midfielders but his progression has been hampered hugely by a series of injuries, and his off-field antics in the past hasn’t done him any favours.
Wilshere made his introduction into the first-team back in 2008, but it wasn’t until two years later that he became a first-team regular for the Gunners and caught the eyes of world football.
However, Wilshere is currently nursing his twenty-second injury since 2009 (10 of which he suffered from 2014 onwards) which has led to many questioning whether or not he will fulfil his potential.
So on hearing that Wenger is considering offering Wilshere a new deal may worry and even annoy some Arsenal fans as the Englishman is now labelled an ‘injury-prone player’.
Sadly, it appears Wilshere could replicate the career of Abou Diaby at Arsenal.
Although Wilshere has played a hell of a lot more games than Diaby at Arsenal, the Frenchman was dubbed the ‘next Patrick Vieira’ but never lived up to the billing. In contrast, Wilshere was dubbed the ‘next Paul Gascoigne’, and although he did show traits of a younger Gazza a few years back, his injuries haven’t done him any favours and led to speculation over his future in the past couple of years.
Should Wenger really offer Wilshere a new deal and keep him at Arsenal beyond 2018? This is up for debate.
Without doubt take the gamble. Not only is his talent special but it is unique and i for one want home grown English talent else the team means nothing.
A fit Jack Wilshere is one of the best midfielders anywhere, but fit is the operative word. I think Wenger should give him one more chance when he eventually recovers from his current injury.
If he then gets crocked again shortly after his return, then sadly we must conclude that we have another Abou Diaby situation. Then Wilshere must be moved on; the wages he has been pocketing for sitting in the stands could then go towards a reliable player to replace him in the squad