Arsene Wenger has claimed “mature” Jack Wilshere is up for the challenge of winning back his Arsenal place.

And Gunners manager Wenger insisted it is not too late for the 25-year-old to fulfill his potential if he can stay fit — and curb his “impulsive character”.

England midfielder Wilshere broke a leg in April, prematurely ending a season out on loan at Bournemouth, and his latest Arsenal comeback, off the bench, was overshadowed by the chaos against Cologne in last week's Europa League opener.

Video Loading

But Wilshere, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is now in line to make his first Gunners start for 16 months in Wednesday's Carabao Cup third round tie against visiting League One side Doncaster Rovers.

“If you ask me, 'Is he back to his full, 100 per cent potential?', I would say no,” said Wenger.“But he’s not far away.

“The rest now can only be gained by competition. That’s why I believe that these kind of games are very important for Jack at the moment.

Video Loading

“He is focused, he is working hard and he is absolutely determined to get his place back in the team. There is a big fight there, and that’s what we want.

“It’s a dream for all of us to see him fulfill his potential.

“I gave Jack his start at 17 years of age. That means I am convinced — you have to be convinced, to play a boy at 17 years of age, that he is a special player.

Wilshere's last Arsenal start was in a May 2016 win over Aston Villa (
Image:
Arsenal FC/Getty)
Will Alexis Sanchez be getting to grips with League One visitors Doncaster? (
Image:
Arsenal FC/Getty)
Wenger and co are expecting a quieter night than in Arsenal's last home match! (
Image:
Arsenal FC/Getty)

"He is a special player, but we are all the same in that you need health to work — I need health to work and a football player needs to be healthy to play.”

Wenger said Wilshere is “naturally brave”, but reckoned his long injury layoffs have taken their toll.

“He doesn’t come out with that but he loves the game so much that of course he will suffer,” he said.

But the England star has also had disciplinary problems on and off the field and was sent off in an Under-23s match last month for retaliation after a heavy tackle.

“I think Jack deals with the pressure very well,” the Frenchman claimed. “He always had that from a very young age, but I would say that overall he is more patient now.

“He got a few knocks and bruises that build a man and at the start it was all very easy for him.

“Jack has gone through some tough times so he has that density, that fitness now of a man who knows that life is not only easy.

Wilshere showed there's still fire in his belly in a recent U23s game... (
Image:
Getty)
...taking exception to being clattered by a Manchester City youngster... (
Image:
Rex Features)
...to such a degree that he got himself sent off (
Image:
Getty)

“You have as well to go through some difficult periods and he has always had a football brain.

“Jack understands football very well, but I would say he’s a much more mature man today. He had always common sense Jack, but he had an impulsive character.’

Wenger said he will field a “ similar team” to the one that began the Cologne match against the third-tier Rovers.

Video Loading

England striker Danny Welbeck will be out until after the international break with a groin strain suffered in Sunday's draw at Chelsea, while playmaker Mesut Ozil is still suffering from a knee injury.

PROBABLE TEAMS

ARSENAL Ospina; Holding, Mertesacker, Chambers; Elneny, Wilshire, Maitland-Niles, Nelson, Walcott, Giroud, Iwobi.

DONCASTER Lawlor; Garratt, Butler, Wright; Rowe, Kongolo, Whiteman, Coppinger, Blair; May, Marquis.

poll loading

Will Jack Wilshere ever become the player so many thought he'd develop into?

6000+ VOTES SO FAR