STICK,TO YOUR GUNS JACK
Wenger: Stay here and you’ll reach the World Cup
ARSENE WENGER insists Jack Wilshere can stay at Arsenal and still fulfil his World Cup ambitions next summer.
Wilshere is desperate to get an England recall, but knows he needs regular first-team football. He is yet to start a Premier League game this season, leading to doubts about his future.
The 25-year-old is in the final year of his contract and West Ham are one of several clubs watching developments.
But Wenger (right) believes Wilshere has shown in the Europa League that he is getting back to the form that will earn him a place in Arsenal’s first XI and make him a certainty for England.
The Gunners boss said: “I hope he goes to the World Cup. I believe that Jack, at the moment, is in the best form I’ve seen him in for a long time. He’s very close now to being considered like anybody else.
“I believe he doesn’t necessarily have to leave Arsenal to reach the World Cup. If he keeps going like he’s going at the moment, he will go to the World Cup, I’m sure. I don’t see Jack being fully fit and not going to the World Cup. He’s already played games for us since the start of the season and he will play many more. “We have plenty of good players, but he is maybe more of a No.10 than any other player. He can open spaces, can play in tight areas, can get out of tight areas as well. “Jack is certainly one of the players who has that more than anybody else.” Wenger confirmed that Germany defender Shkodran Mustafi will be out for up to six weeks with a thigh injury, while Laurent Koscielny will have a late fitness test ahead of tomorrow’s Watford game, but Sead Kolasinac is expected to overcome a hip problem.
Wenger dropped a hint that Arsenal will play Liverpool on Christmas Eve as Sky want to show the fixture live.
But he added: “I would say if we had to play, we should not play after 2pm. I would prefer to be at my home and celebrate Christmas.
“But I still feel that could happen if we played early.”