Jack Wilshere has stated that he is still battling to try and win his first-team place back at Arsenal, amidst speculation linking him with the exit door.
The 26 year-old is into the final season of his Gunners contract, and is believed to be eager to prove his fitness and worth to the team in order to attain a new one.
“Of course I want to be playing,” he said.
“It’s difficult when you play every three weeks.
“It’s the same as every player. I’m still determined to win my place back, I’m working hard and we’ll see what the future holds – if I can get in or I can’t.”
Wilshere has impressed when given the chance to feature for our side, mostly in the Europa League and Carabao Cup thus far.
The England international has been linked with a potential January move in order to gain regular action ahead of the World Cup competition in Russia next summer, but Arsene Wenger appears to be keen to bring Wilshere up to strength, and I believe he has a role to play in our first-team.
On from his future, the midfielder added that he felt his side played well enough to get something out of the game, refusing to blame the referee for granting the penalty which denied his side any points from the match-up.
He added: “To be honest with you I was a long way away from it.
“You can see why the ref gave it, it happened so quick.
“There are two players coming in to sandwich him and if he feels a touch he’s got every right to go down. We can’t blame the ref for that.
“When you lose any game, you’re frustrated.
“We thought we were in control in the first half, we felt like they wanted to sit back and then hurt us on the counter attack.
“I felt we dealt with that well in the first half but then they came out in the second half, they were sharp, we were trying to push.
“And a little lapse in concentration and they get the goal and then it’s difficult from then.”
How far is Jack Wilshere from a first-team role? Does Xhaka or Ramsey need to up their game to keep him out? Or will he find himself rotated between the places?
Pat J