Jack Wilshere desperate to extend time at Arsenal: 'Do I see myself staying? Of course I do. I have always been here, I love this club'

• e-mail

Jack Wilshere has fired back at jibes over his fitness and insisted he is desperate to stay at Arsenal as uncertainty surrounds his future at the club.

The 25-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and feels he is 'playing for my future', but has looked increasingly impressive on his comeback from the broken ankle he suffered towards the end of his loan at Bournemouth in April.

He was the best player on the pitch in each of his two starts this season, against Doncaster in the Carabao Cup last week and in the Europa League win at BATE Borisov on Thursday. But with no talks even planned at this stage over the renewal of his deal, a prolonged spell of fitness will be key to convincing Arsene Wenger to sanction another contract.

Jack Wilshere has hit back at jibes over his fitness and insisted he's desperate to stay at Arsenal

The 25-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and feels he is 'playing for my future'

Wilshere said: 'You are always playing for your future. At the moment I am happy to be back, to feel part of the squad. It has been a while since I felt a proper Arsenal player but I am back, in training, back in the squad, playing these types of games.

'I am doing everything I can to stay fit, training well, so we will see. I am not looking too far ahead.

'Do I see myself staying? Of course I do. I have always been at Arsenal, I love this club. They have been good to me over the years, I have a great relationship with the boss. He has played me since I was 17. He has put his trust in me since then. We have a great understanding and of course I want to stay.'

He was the best player on the pitch in each of his two starts for Arsenal this season

On doubts over his injury record over recent years, Wilshere said: 'Football is a game where people forget. Everyone says, "You are never fit" but last season I was fit for the whole season. It was only in April that I got an impact injury.'

The next step for Wilshere will be establishing himself in the Premier League side, having so far not featured this season, and his longer-term aim is a place in the England squad, after admitting he has stopped even checking their announcements.

Speaking ahead of Arsenal's clash with Brighton on Sunday, he said: 'I have only played two games of 90 so it will come and I am patient at the moment. We will see where I am in three or four weeks.

'I am getting back to full fitness and of course I want to be part of that(England set-up). When I am fit and playing in the Premier League we will see.'