Monday 5 December 2016 06:30, UK
Jamie Carragher has advised Jack Wilshere against signing a new Arsenal deal, warning the on-loan Bournemouth man he could go "back to square one" at the Emirates.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger sanctioned Wilshere's season-long loan with the Cherries back in August but insisted last month he still planned to offer the midfielder a new deal.
Wilshere has started eight of Bournemouth's last nine Premier League games - his best run for four years - and Carragher believes a return to north London could hinder his progress.
"He's playing in the No 10 position behind the front, which is maybe slightly alien to him - he's played there a couple of times for Arsenal - and he's played well," Carragher told Sky Sports ahead of Bournemouth's dramatic Nissan Super Sunday win with Liverpool.
"He's yet to get off the mark but he's created more chances than any other Bournemouth player and each week he's getting better and better. That comes with the fitness side of it but also confidence; knowing that you're going to play week in, week out - there's nothing better as a player.
"I think Jack Wilshere's at the stage where he just wants to play football. With the competition for places at Arsenal, he's probably not sure [about playing every week].
"He's got a massive decision to make. I saw what Arsene Wenger said about him signing a new deal but if I'm being honest, if I were Jack Wilshere, I wouldn't go back to Arsenal.
"I don't see how he fits in. He's playing in a No 10 position now and Mesut Ozil is better in that position than him so he won't play there.
"You go back to central midfield - Wenger's bought Xhaka, who's also a left-footed central midfielder, for £35m and you'd expect him to come to the fore next season - he's still settling in.
"Francis Coquelin's a holding midfielder, you've got Mohamed Elneny and Aaron Ramsey wants to play central midfield.
"Wilshere just goes back to square one for me where he's not sure whether he's playing, and at 24 or 25, forget about what club you're at or what you could win. You want to play week in, week out, for 90 minutes, and show what you can do."
Wilshere has admitted he is relishing life on the south coast, telling Sky Sports' Geoff Shreeves he is feeling "fitter and fitter each week" and Carragher believes a change of scenery has restored focus to his abilities on the field.
"We're talking now about Jack Wilshere playing well for Bournemouth," he added. "When he he was at Arsenal we were always talking about his injuries, how he wasn't playing, where he fits in, what's his best position, is he going to get in the team going forward?
"At least now we're judging him as a player and that's why I think he's got to consider other clubs that might come in for him or staying at Bournemouth."
