Jack Wilshere reveals hurt at Arteta’s Arsenal rejection as midfielder responds to West Brom link

Jack Wilshere admits he would have “loved” to have re-signed for Arsenal to help them out of their recent midfield pickle – and has come clean on the reason why Mikel Arteta has snubbed him.

A fine run of form up before Christmas saw the Gunners climb into the Premier League’s top four. That rekindled hopes that Arsenal could end what will be a five-year wait to play in the Champions League once again. However, with Manchester United, Tottenham and West Ham also in the battle, the race for fourth looks likely to go down to the wire.

However, a bleak run of results in January saw Arsenal fail to win any one of their five matches. And while only two were in the Premier League, a huge hole in their midfield will be cited as having had an impact.

Indeed, with Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny at AFCON, they also lost Granit Xhaka to suspension. And that left just Albert Sambi Lokonga as a senior midfield option. It was perhaps little shock to see their game with Tottenham postponed.

Amid their crisis, there were plenty of voices telling Arsenal they do far worse than hand Wilshere a short-term deal.

The midfielder, currently a free agent, was allowed to train again at Arsenal as he sought a new club.

However, despite strong calls in the media, Arteta was extremely clear that he will not be re-signing the player.

“No (he won’t join us),” Arteta said. “But I think it is a great compliment for Jack that the players playing alongside him think so highly of him. He is doing really well, better and better, and we know the qualities Jack has.”

Midfielder reveals disappointment

Now, speaking for the first time about that snub, Wilshere has come clean on his willingness to re-sign for the Gunners. He’s also revealed why he thinks Arteta has no wish to bring him back officially.

When asked why he isn’t playing for Arsenal, Wilshere told talkSPORT (via Metro): “Because the manager doesn’t want me to. Well, I don’t think he does.”

Pressed on whether the next club he signs for will be the Gunners, he replied: “I don’t know that. I would love it to be Arsenal. But I am not in control of that.”

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Wilshere has been linked with a number of different clubs, including West Brom, in recent days.

However, the 34-times capped England midfielder insists his next club will not be the Baggies or in England.

“I’m talking to a few different clubs, but not in the Premier League or England,” he revealed.

Ray Parlour backs Jack Wilshere to re-sign for Arsenal

Despite his admission that Arteta does not want him, former Gunners star Ray Parlour think s Arsenal should re-consider.

“He’s training with them every day now. I don’t think he’d be used, if I’m being honest,’”Parlour told talkSPORT.

“But if there was a massive injury crisis, you never know in football what can happen. You could get two or three midfield players injured.

“Mikel Arteta will know if he’s sharp enough, because it’s totally different from training to competitive games, totally different.

“There must be training games going on where it’s a little bit more competitive than the training session, and maybe he joins in with certain games like that.

“If he thinks he’s competitive enough, because we all know what a player he was, Jack, absolutely brilliant.

“I’m so shocked that he hasn’t got a club if I’m honest, at his age, because I’m sure he can bring a lot to different clubs.

“But it’s down to Jack Wilshere, he might not want to play in the Championship or League One or wherever.”

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