Jack Wilshere: I feared my World Cup dream was over after Arsene Wenger told me I could leave Arsenal

Jack Wilshere has revealed how Arsene Wenger told him he probably did not have a future at Arsenal and could leave – and admitted that he feared he had little chance of making England’s World Cup squad.

During a frank conversation, Wenger said Wilshere should consider looking for another club because he was not planning to offer the midfielder a new contract. And even informed Wilshere while he was sitting on an exercise bike.

The discussion took place during pre-season training last summer. “It was an honest conversation,” Wilshere explained. “We have known each other long enough where we can have that relationship where we are honest with each other. It was boiling up for a while because everybody knew I had a year left on my deal and I had been out on loan, got injured, and wasn’t really in his plans.

“He said, ‘I am going to be honest with you and at the moment we are not going to be offering you a contract, so if you can get a contract somewhere else, you can go’. Obviously I was not happy with that, but at the same time I was happy he was being honest.

“He gave me the opportunity with three or four weeks left in the transfer window, but I did not find anything that I wanted and at the same time I was not really fit, so I decided that I wanted to stay and build up my fitness. He also said at the same time that if I did stay I had an opportunity to fight for my place, and if I performed well in the Carabao Cup and Europa League, I had a chance.”

The discussion did not take place in Wenger’s office. “I was on the bike in the gym, so I didn’t leave the room,” Wilshere added. “It was a strange one, because maybe part of me knew all this already – all I needed was some clarity on where I stood in the football club. He also said to me that he understands I am in a good position.

“How I felt after? I don’t really know, it is hard to say. It did make me think because he had said I could fight for my position. And I always had confidence I could get back into the midfield if I got my fitness back and kept it – and I did that. I proved that I could get into that team.”

Wilshere has done just that. There have been so many injuries, so many false dawns, so much frustration around the 26 year-old’s career, but he has forced his way back into the Arsenal side and, with that, proven his fitness to England manager Gareth Southgate enough to earn a recall for the friendlies against Holland and Italy as the countdown begins to the World Cup.

Did Wilshere fear his chances of playing in that tournament were over? “I think that is fair to say because I wasn’t getting in the Arsenal team and the manager said I could leave if I wanted to,” Wilshere said. “I was in the position that I did not know what was going to happen in the coming season.

Wilshere -Puffed

“I chose to stay and fight and I was always confident in my ability but, at the end of the day, it is down to the manager and whether he puts you in the team or not. Thankfully he has and I have stayed in there. I have always had the confidence in myself and felt that if I got in there I could put in the performances that would give me the opportunity to be back here with England. But it is down to the manager of Arsenal for picking me, so I am thankful for that.”

However, Wilshere is still to sign a new contract at Arsenal, who he joined aged nine, and now has little over three months left on his current deal. Talks have taken place but no agreement has been reached with the club having asked Wilshere to accept a reduced basic salary.

Wenger has said he would like the situation resolved but Wilshere said although “ideally” he would want it “sorted” it would not concern him if he went to the World Cup without an agreement.

“I don’t think it would be a distraction because this is probably one of the most important years of my career and if I had let the contract and the future go to my head and I had worried about that, I would have probably ended up leaving in January,” Wilshere explained. “I just wanted to focus on getting fit, getting back in the Arsenal team and then hopefully getting back here.

“I have got three months left on my contract. Ideally, yes, I want it sorted as soon as possible. I want to go to the World Cup and enjoy it but we have three months until then and a lot can happen. Ideally from my point of view and the club’s point of view, they will probably want it sorted.” 

He also appreciates the “faith” Wenger put in him.

The fact that Wilshere is producing his best form since his first serious injury in 2011 has raised the prospect of other big clubs coming in, with AC Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso praising him after last week’s Europa League tie. “He combines English grit with Spanish technique,” Gattuso said. So would Wilshere consider eventually moving abroad?

"I wouldn't say no,” Wilshere said. “Obviously when I decided to leave Arsenal a few years ago, when I went to Bournemouth on loan, there was a few options from abroad (including an offer from Roma). But it just felt it wasn't the right time in my career because I'd missed too much Premier League football and I missed playing in the Premier League. But I definitely wouldn't say no."

Wilshere has not played for England since their traumatic exit from Euro 2016 against Iceland. It has been a long way back. “But I never gave up,” he said. “I never gave hope that I could do it again. I was in the squad 18 months ago and I didn’t get the chance but I’ve always felt like it’s somewhere I belong and I want to be involved in this. I had the vision going forward and now it’s down to me to stake my claim.

“I feel I’m at a place in my career and in my life where I have accepted the past has happened and now I’m just focused on the future and improving myself. I know my body better than I have ever done. I know what to do with it and how to get the best out of it so I’m just focused on that.”

So how close is he to, finally, fulfilling his potential? “On a scale of 10? I dunno,” Wilshere said. “I am a player who always wants to give more. I should be scoring more goals. I am a little bit further back now (in midfield) but I want to be getting assists and getting more goals. I am not happy with the numbers this year. Having said that, I am coming from a position where I have been told I can leave. My main target was getting in the (Arsenal) team and staying there. I have done that.”