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Arsene Wenger warns Jack Wilshere that new contract is on the line as midfielder bids to prove fitness

Wilshere's current Arsenal contract runs out next summer

Monday 09 October 2017 18:28 BST

Jack Wilshere is back in the Arsenal ranks after spending last season at Bournemouth (Getty)

Arsene Wenger has warned Jack Wilshere that a new Arsenal contract deal is on the line as he bids to prove his fitness and worth to the Frenchman.

The 25-year-old has been struck down by repeated injuries throughout his career, the most recent of which was a hairline fracture to his left fibula which saw him miss the remainder of the 2016/17 campaign.

After returning from his spell at Bournemouth last season, Wilshere has made three appearances for Arsenal in all competitions this term.

Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

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1/22Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Petr Cech – 6 out of 10

Given very little to do, although he unusually flapped at a corner when deciding to come off his line. Given a few scares late on as Brighton threw caution to the wind.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Rob Holding – 6 out of 10

Looked a little nervous early on but settled down as Mustafi and Bellerin looked to make his day easier. 90 minute outing will have done his confidence the world of good after recent struggles.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Shkodran Mustafi – 7 out of 10

A very good performance at both ends of the pitch that was only blighted late on when he allowed Glenn Murray to steal in ahead of him and have a golden chance to score. Took on a mature role with Holding, which will have impressed Wenger.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Nacho Monreal – 8 out of 10

Scored his first goal since March 2013 as he reacted quickest to Xhaka’s free-kick that deflected off Mustafi, and showed a good awareness to pinch possession on occasion whenever Brighton looked to attack.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Hector Bellerin – 7 out of 10

A good showing from the Spaniard who relished the attacking platform that a defensive Brighton afforded him later on. Linked up well with Sanchez as he roamed across the pitch.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Aaron Ramsey – 6 out of 10

Looked frustrated as everything he tried just didn’t come off this afternoon. Moved to a deeper role alongside Xhaka, but his passing was on the heavy side and killed off chances while his best effort on goal was well saved by Ryan.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Granit Xhaka – 7 out of 10

Threatening free-kick produced Arsenal’s opener as it caused panic in the Brighton area. A mature display as he tackled well – not always a given with Xhaka – but guilty of wasting a good free-kick opportunity.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Sead Kolasinac – 7 out of 10

Unlucky not to have a goal as his header was cleared off the line from Sanchez’s corner. A real threat coming forward due to his size and skill, but caught out positionally by Propper and had to concede a free-kick from which Brighton nearly equalised.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Alex Iwobi – 8 out of 10

Back from a thigh injury with a goal to boot. The attacking midfielder enjoyed the central role he was afforded with two mazy runs in the first half, and he finally converted a chance when Sanchez laid one to him on a plate.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Alexis Sanchez – 8 out of 10

The beating heart of this Arsenal side was at his most lively as he tormented the Brighton back four. He was aware enough to backheel the ball into Iwobi’s path to score the second and could easily have scored in the opening half had he been able to put the ball either side of goalkeeper Ryan.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Alexandre Lacazette – 7 out of 10

The only thing that prevents him from an eight is the number of chances he failed to take. Lively start saw the striker crack a powerful long-range half-volley against the post, but his next two opportunities were blocked and when he finally got a chance away, it was a tame finish that Ryan easily saved.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

<b>Brighton:</b> Matthew Ryan – 7 out of 10

That Arsenal were limited to just two goals was largely thanks to their Australian goalkeeper, who pulled off two good saves from Ramsey and Lacazette, not to mention a number of regulation efforts to deny Sanchez and Iwobi too.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Bruno – 6 out of 10

Given the run-around by Sanchez but he is not the first and will certainly not be the last.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Shane Duffy – 6 out of 10

Booked for a foul on Sanchez that he could do little about as the Arsenal maestro spun away from him and would’ve been through on goal had he not taken him out. Made a crucial block to deny Lacazette in the second half.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Lewis Dunk – 7 out of 10

Important block early on, but couldn’t score the rebound from March’s post-bound effort. Allowed Sanchez too much space in the build-up to Iwobi’s goal, but got back to prevent Lacazette from getting a shot away soon after and deflected Sanchez’s goal-bound effort just past the post.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Gaetan Bong – 6 out of 10

Tormented by Sanchez and Bellerin as he failed to cope with their pace and link-up play, which also meant he had to sit back and defend and rarely ventured into the Arsenal half.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Solly March – 7 out of 10

Fierce effort from cleverly worked free-kick had Cech beaten, but cannoned off the inside of the post. Looked like Brighton’s most lively player, but replaced 20 minutes from time as Chris Hughton appeared to try and save his energy levels.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Dale Stephens – 5 out of 10

Struggled to cope in the midfield as Arsenal’s options left him overran, and in the end he proved largely anonymous.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Davy Propper – 6 out of 10

Drew a foul from Kolasinac in a dangerous position that worked the chance for March, but otherwise he was starved of possession. A bright start soon quickly faded.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Jose Izquierdo – 6 out of 10

Conceded the free-kick that led to Arsenal’s opener by fouling Lacazette, and after being built up so much, he failed to deliver. Replaced with 20 minutes to go by Anthony Knockaert.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Pascal Gross – 6 out of 10

Booked for protesting Arsenal’s opener and nearly gifted them a second with his poor pass back to Dunk that let in Lacazette.

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Arsenal vs Brighton player ratings

Izzy Brown – 6 out of 10

A relatively quiet game, which is no surprise given the level of defending Brighton had to do, but Glenn Murray’s impact could put his starting place under pressure.

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He notably impressed against BATE Borisov late last month, in which he played all 90 minutes of the 4-2 win.

With his contract set to run out next summer, Wenger has urged the midfielder to prove his fitness should he wish to sign a new deal at the club.

Wenger told beIN Sports: "Jack Wilshere struggled historically with repeated injuries and no one could question his talent, nobody would question his exceptional ability to beat people with the ball.

"But in this job you need to have health. The requests and demands of the competition, physically, are so high and you can only be at your best if you can play at least 10 games on the trot. That's what's at stake for Jack Wilshere.

 Wilshere in action against BATE Borisov  (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

"He needs to keep his health and be capable of competing. If he can play from now until December at the top level, he will be back. If he has other set-backs then it will be more difficult.

"It's a vital season because he's nearing the end of his contract, it's a World Cup year and he has been an Arsenal player since he was a kid, so all that's at stake for him and for us as well because you'd love a player like him of that quality to come back.

"In fact he had a very good game in BATE Borisov, especially a brilliant first half where he was back to his best, so he's not far away now. Let's hope in the next two or three weeks he can play regularly in the first team."

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