Martin Keown says Arsenal’s defeat to Manchester City proves it’s time for Jack Wilshere to make a return to the starting eleven.
Wilshere, who spent last season on loan with Bournemouth to rebuild hit fitness at a first team level, has been ramping up his Gunners return this season.
The 25-year-old has made five starts for Arsene Wenger this season, all coming in either the Europa League or EFL Cup, but has played just 25 minutes in the Premier League coming off the bench.
Having worked his way back into Wenger’s thoughts, Keown is calling on his former manager to start the midfielder in the Premier League .
“This defeat proved that it is time for Jack Wilshere to return to Arsenal’s first team” the Arsenal icon wrote in his Daily Mail column.
“Arsene Wenger’s game plan was to stop Manchester City playing and for periods, it worked. But where was Arsenal’s midfield creativity?
“They were not able to play the way they wanted in the final third and that is where Wilshere would have made a difference.
“He commits defenders, he creates space, he finds that pass for Alexis Sanchez or Alexandre Lacazette.
“Sanchez and Mesut Ozil did not have good games. If they are not going to sign contracts, then Arsenal have to start looking to the future.
“Does Wenger play Wilshere instead of Ozil, or in midfield in place of Granit Xhaka?”
