Arsenal transfer news: Jack Wilshere’s new contract depends on his fitness, says Arsene Wenger
The 25-year-old midfielder impressed against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup where he started in the 1-0 win at the Emirates
JACK WILSHERE will only be given a new Arsenal contract if he can remain match fit, says boss Arsene Wenger.
The 25-year-old - whose deal expires at the end of the season - started his first Gunners match in over a year on Wednesday night.
Wilshere played the whole 90 minutes against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup as he dazzled at the Emirates in an otherwise disappointing contest.
Theo Walcott scored the only goal of the night in the 1-0 win, but the performance of the ex-Bournemouth star will have impressed Wenger, much like it did with the Arsenal fans.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Monday night's match-up with West Brom, the Frenchman revealed no new talks have taken place with Wilshere.
He said: "It is down to the fact – and I have said this many times – that he can remain fit or not.
"He’s an Arsenal man and an Arsenal player.
"He would certainly like to stay, but we haven’t spoken about that, because at the start of the season I thought we had to see how it evolves and see what kind of influence he can have in the squad through the whole season."
Arsenal transfer news
Despite dictating the play against Darren Ferguson's League One side, Wilshere is unlikely to start against the Baggies.
With Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka continuing to forge a strong partnership, it looks increasingly likely that the former Bolton man will be a peripheral figure this season.
The last time Wilshere featured more than three times for Arsenal in all competitions was back in the 2014/15 campaign.
He will likely next get some much-needed game time when the FA Cup champions take on BATE Borisov in the Europa League next Thursday.
