Arsene Wenger has told Jack Wilshere he can become Arsenal’s next captain if he stays at the Emirates.
Gunners boss Wenger says Wilshere has the “leadership qualities” required and a deep love for the club to make himself a legend.
Wilshere, 26, has been a revelation this season since coming back into the team and regaining his fitness but his long term future remains uncertain as his current deal expires at the end of the season.
But Wenger has no doubt that Wilshere wants to stay and will sign a new contract which will keep him at Arsenal.
Wilshere captained Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi final at Chelsea and even kept the armband as a precious souvenir after the game.
Wenger said: “I see him here because he is an Arsenal man. He was here at the age of ten and I believe as well he’s not only been here for a long time but he has some leadership qualities.
“He has a football brain. He is completely focused on Arsenal. The fact that he has been away and come back … he realises as well that life here is not so bad maybe!
“That is something that is important that he can be one of the leaders in the future.
“Who would question his love and commitment for the club? Nobody. We have to find an agreement that makes him happy and the wish that in the future he remains fit.”
Wilshere, 26, has been offered a new deal by Arsenal but it involves taking a pay cut on his basic £110,000-a-week contract because of his previous injury record.
Arsenal want him to sign an incentivised £90,000-a-week contract involving bonuses and add-ons which will give him a significant rise on his previous deal as long as he is playing.
It is a remarkable turnaround for a player who spent last season on loan at Bournemouth and was told at the start of the summer that he could go and Aston Villa was a serious option for him after they made an offer.
But Wilshere refused to go, fought to win back his place and is now back in the starting XI with Wenger believing he has matured in every way.
Wenger says he has also learned to be more “mature” and treat his body better which is the reason why he has avoided injury this season.
Wenger added: “He is much more patient and mature. He analyses better. Before his desire to play was the only thing that mattered. Today he can analyse better. Is he fit or not fit? What is he to do?
“He has a lot of prevention to do and he does that religiously now. Before he was a bit more ‘my body can take that’ like we all are when we are 20 years old.”