Wilshere doesn’t need to leave Arsenal for England spot, says Wenger

Arsene Wenger has backed Jack Wilshere to make Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2018 World Cup and insists the midfielder doesn’t have to leave Arsenal to earn his place.

Wilshere is reportedly considering his Arsenal future and could force a move away in January in search of first-team football to enhance his chances of making next summer’s World Cup.

The injury-prone midfielder is fully fit but has been limited to just 202 minutes of action across all competitions this season after recovering from a broken leg suffered in April during a loan spell at Bournemouth.

Southgate was reportedly mulling a shock call up for Wilshere ahead of England’s 1-0 win over Lithuania last weekend and Wenger believes the 25-year-old has a great chance of playing in Russia in the summer.

“He [Wilshere] doesn’t necessarily have to leave Arsenal to go to the World Cup,” Sky Sports quote Wenger as saying in his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

“I believe that Jack at the moment is in the best form that I have seen him for a long time. He is very close now to being considered like anybody else.

“I think if he keeps going like he’s going at the moment, he will go to the World Cup, I’m sure. I don’t see jack being fully fit and not going to the World Cup. He played games for us already and is part of the scene and will play many more.”

Wilshere appeared to overcome his injury problems during a season-long loan stint at Bournemouth before breaking his leg against Tottenham in April.

The Arsenal No.10 started 22 league matches for the Cherries, which represented his best return in a single-league campaign since the 2010/11 season where he started 31 matches.