Here was a time when Arsene Wenger was seen as the club manager who would shape a bright future for the English national team.

From the days when he fielded an all-foreign side, Wenger had made an about-turn and was putting his trust in homegrown talent.

Remember the picture?

Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere – along with Welshman Aaron Ramsey – all signing new deals as Wenger stood ­behind them like a messiah.

For a brief while, with Theo Walcott regularly recommitting himself to the cause, he was ­almost evangelical about it.

Yet, when Gareth Southgate announced his squad for the World Cup qualifying games against Slovenia and Lithuania, there was not a single Arsenal player in it.

It didn't pan out as hoped for Arsene (
Image:
Arsenal FC/Getty)

Whether Wenger is concerned or not, that is a shame, but the Arsenal manager might yet prove key to England’s chances at next summer’s World Cup.

Unlikely as it seems, England’s fortunes could yet revolve around Wenger’s faith in Wilshere, a player who remains the most talented midfielder at Southgate’s disposal. With respect, more talented than Manchester City’s Fabian Delph. Southgate did his eloquent best to justify Delph’s inclusion, but was fooling few.

At the time of selection, Delph had not started a Premier League game since early April.

He played in the EFL Cup against West Brom and was pretty average and then got a gig as a makeshift left-back against Shakhtar Donetsk and did OK.

Delph’s selection is almost a case of Southgate holding up his hands and bemoaning his ­midfield options.

Make no mistake, as Jake Livermore continues to be an automatic choice, Southgate knows he is short in that
department.

Wilshere in action against BATE Borisov last week (
Image:
Getty Images)

Not bereft, but not far off it.

With the central midfielders he has in this current squad, it is hard to see how England can make any sort of impact at Russia 2018.

Southgate even had to give Oxlade-Chamberlain a try in that area. That is what you call straw-clutching.

Maybe it is also clutching at straws, but Wilshere remains an answer, at least a partial answer, to Southgate’s problem.

His loan spell at ­Bournemouth was not a headline success, but, after his injury troubles, ­rehabilitation was ­always going to be gradual. And, while it was only against the ­champions of Belarus, his performance against BATE Borisov was a throwback to his best days.

It was only just over two years ago when Wilshere scored two ­stunning goals against Thursday’s visitors to Wembley, Slovenia.

Wilshere celebrates scoring against Slovenia (
Image:
Getty)

He is not 26 until January and there is no reason to think he has reached his peak.

To become a mainstay for England again, Wilshere will have to establish himself in the Arsenal side. He has the talent to do that, if Wenger has faith.

There was a time when Wenger looked like being key to ­England’s fortunes on the ­international stage.

If he can coax Wilshere back to his pomp, he still could be.