GUNNERS CLOCK IS TICKING FOR JACK
P W D L F APts Bournemouth 31 9 9 13 37 49 36 Watford 31 10 6 15 39 55 36 Brighton 30 8 10 12 28 40 34 Newcastle 30 8 8 14 30 40 32 Swansea 30 8 7 15 25 42 31 Huddersfield 31 8 7 16 25 52 31 Crystal Palace 31 7 9 15 30 48 30 West Ham 30 7 9 14 36 57 30 Southampton 30 5 13 12 29 44 28 Stoke 31 6 9 16 29 58 27 West Brom 31 3 11 17 24 49 20 JACK WILSHERE will return for Arsenal after missing out on his World Cup audition, but time is running out for him at the Emirates.
He is locked in a contract stand-off which is pushing him towards the exit door even though supporters want him to stay.
Everton lead the chase for the 26-year-old, out of contract this summer.
Arsenal are refusing to budge on an offer of £90,000-a-week, down from £110,000-a-week, but with big incentives.
That has left Wilshere ready to leave, with AC Milan and Juventus also interested, while he may wait to see if Liverpool and Manchester City follow up initial inquiries.
The midfielder (above) was hoping to stake his claim for a World Cup place in England’s friendlies with Holland and Italy but a knee problem flared up and ruled him out of what was likely to be his last chance of making the squad.
Arsenal assistant boss Steve Bould expects Wilshere to be fit to face Stoke tomorrow, but admits he can struggle after such a catalogue of injuries.
Bould, who coached Wilshere at youth level, said: “I think perhaps he’ll always have a little niggle here and there because of the way he is structured. That’s his make-up now.
“A fit Jack Wilshere is a very good player. I think we’re all hopeful longer term he has overcome those issues.
“I’ve known Jack since he was a real young kid. He loves the club and we just need him fit more often than he’s been in the past.
“I think it’s coming slowly but surely. It’s something he might have to manage all his career I guess. He’s been training fully with us over the last month – two or three months even. It gets tempered a little bit occasionally.
“That’s the nature of Jack I’m afraid. He can pick up an injury because his ankle will turn, his knee.
“He’ll be disappointed. He wants to play for his country, I’m sure. But I’m really pleased for him recently as he’s worked tremendously hard and it’s been tough for him mentally. It looks like he’s rode through it and come out a stronger person and player for it.”