Arsenal: ‘Positive’ progress for Jack Wilshere good for now

One Arsenal exit has already been confirmed in Arsene Wenger, but another has also been concerning, that of Jack Wilshere. However, according to a new report, and Wenger himself, the midfielder looks to be playing for the Gunners next season. That is a good thing, for now.

Jack Wilshere, 26, signed for Arsenal at 16. With a couple of loan moves coming at the start and latter end of his career so far, the Englishman has remained a Gunner at heart all his career.

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However, with his contract ending at the conclusion of this season, rumours started circulating that Wilshere potentially wanted to move elsewhere, with the suggestions claiming that he was unhappy with the posited contract and with his somewhat limited, rotational playing time.

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Now, however, new reports have shed light on the Wilshere situation, which now looks far more positive than first imagined. Last week, Mirror Sport revealed that Arsenal had offered a fresh deal for the 26-year-old in a hope the stand-off between the two could be resolved if the club offered more money than the initial offer.

The external clubs rumoured interested in Wilshere are Wolves and Everton, who are reportedly offering lucrative deals well worth the heartbreak exiting his boyhood team, the team that gave him his first break into the beautiful game, the team that he loves so dearly, the team that he so desperately wants to play for. But there are growing suggestions that such clubs will fall short in their pursuit of the marauding midfielder.

Additionally, more recently, speaking ahead of the Gunners’ away game against Leicester at a press conference, Wenger said thinks looks ‘positive’ regarding the former Arsenal youth player, admitting that his belief that Wilshere will stay with the club, though also conceding that he is no longer involved with such negotiations:

"“The latest conversation I had with Jack it looks positive for the club. I am not involved now in negotiations but of course [I’m] still in touch with Jack — if he wants my advice I’ll give it to him. I’m convinced, like I was always, that his future is here.”"

The old deal, which was alleged to be £90,000-a-week, would have meant a £20,000 pay-cut, excluding pay-as-you-play and other contractual incentives. Therefore, in a hope to keep the England international, Arsenal were willing to up their price to lock down the midfielder for next season, though a weekly salary that has yet to be revealed.

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The future of Wilshere is a contentious topic in north London. There are those who are staunch supporters of his talent; there are those who believe his injuries have cost him his best years and decimated his potential. Only time will tell which side of the divide is the right one, but, for now, it seems as tough Wilshere is staying. That, at least to some extent, is a good thing.