Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger backs Jack Wilshere to end England exile after striking in Chelsea draw

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James Benge4 January 2018

Arsene Wenger is convinced Jack Wilshere is ready to end his England exile as the Arsenal playmaker continued his renaissance with his first Premier League goal in two-and-a-half years.

Wilshere opened the scoring in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at home to Chelsea in style, slamming a sweetly-struck drive past Thibaut Courtois via the Belgian’s right-hand post.

It goal was the first time Wilshere had found the net in the top flight since May 2015, an equally impressive goal against West Brom, and is the latest sign of the remarkable strides the 26-year-old has been taking at Arsenal this season.

Barring the sort of injury that has been all too familiar for Wilshere, it now seems inevitable that England manager Gareth Southgate will have to reconsider his decision not to select the playmaker prior to the turn of the year, when the Three Lions boss also questioned his best position.

​Wilshere has not played for England since the 2-1 defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016, a tournament where he was patently not fit enough to make a major impact. But Wenger warned the Three Lions setup they had been wrong to give up on the Arsenal star.

“He’s at the level now where not many people expected him to be,” the Arsenal manager said. “When was the last time he played for England? Against Iceland he came on and since he has not played for England.

“I would say that that means everybody has given up on him. Today nobody would be surprised if he would be selected again.

Wilshere celebrates his first Arsenal goal since May 2015 Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

“Instead of us being criticised for that I think first of all he deserves a great credit for remarkable strength and us as well.”

Speaking after the Chelsea draw, Wilshere, who confirmed there had been “no progress” on talks over an extension to a contract that expires at the end of the season, insisted he was not yet concerned about making Southgate’s squad for the World Cup.

“I want to be going to Russia but now is not the time to be thinking about that,” he said.

“We’ve got to take each game as it comes, keep playing in this time, keep improving and we’ll see what comes in March for the next international games.”

Wilshere and Arsenal are expected to hold talks over a new contract later this month with the midfielder having indicated a willingness to sign.

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