Why Wenger can’t give up on Wilshere

THERE is a reason Arsene Wenger is agonising over whether to let Jack Wilshere leave Arsenal. It should be a no-brainer.

One year left on his contract, seemingly well down the central midfield pecking order and with an injury record that would strike fear into any medical department.

Surely the logical answer is to let him go? Yet, Wenger can’t bring himself to do it.

Communication between Wilshere and Arsenal was non-existent until recently. So the writing was on the wall — Wilshere’s Arsenal career was over. That was the plan at the start of the summer: to sever ties with their prodigal son.

Monday night’s sending- off for retaliating against Manchester City youngster Matthew Smith in an Under 23 clash wasn’t the best way to impress Wenger. Nor was the subsequent scrap with Tyreke Wilson, who also saw red, in the Emirates tunnel.

The counter-argument is that at least it shows the fire is still burning in Wilshere (right) — the sort of fight Arsenal are sorely lacking.

Arsenal have received bids for him. There was a £6.5million offer from Sampdoria and countless loan enquiries from Premier League sides.

But with eight days to go until the end of the transfer window, Wilshere remains at the club’s London Colney HQ.

And Sportsmail can reveal the lines of communication between Wenger and Wilshere have reopened. The upshot of those discussions is that Wenger wants Wilshere to stay at the Emirates and fight for his place. Arsenal were taken aback last season at the interest from Europe’s top clubs as news broke about the club making him available for loan. Roma and AC Milan were among those who tried to sign Wilshere. David Beckham even intervened in a bid to persuade the midfielder to move to the San Siro. In the end, Wilshere couldn’t stand being away from his two children and opted for Bournemouth. Can he now earn the level of contract he wants at Arsenal? Can he play enough games to take his pick of clubs to join on a free transfer next summer? He is certainly fit and up for the challenge. He has recovered from the broken leg that ruled him out of the closing weeks of last season. Arsenal’s decision to pack Wilshere off to Dubai on warmweather rehabilitation provided the midfielder with a solid foundation. He knows his chances will be limited. Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey have made the two central midfield slots their own. Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny are also ahead of him. The plan is to ease Wilshere back, utilising him in the club’s Europa League campaign as well as the League Cup. The rest is up to him.