Arsenal: Arteta opens up on Wilshere's possible return
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta claims Jack Wilshere is getting "better and better" while training with the club. Wilshere is maintaining his fitness with Arsenal while he searches for his next move. But Arteta has again been asked about the possibility of a short-term deal for the former England international.
Arsenal youngster Bradley Ibrahim described Wilshere and summer signing Ben White as the best two players in training earlier this week.
Following that comment, Arteta was asked at his press conference on Thursday morning: "Is there any chance at all in this crazy world of football that he might be some kind of short-term cover for you?"
The Spaniard said Ibrahim's comments were a positive for Wilshere and he knows what he could bring.
Arteta replied: "No I think it's a great compliment for Jack that the players that are playing alongside him think that of him.
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Wilshere has been without a club since leaving Bournemouth at the end of last season.
He left boyhood club Arsenal in 2018 after Unai Emery could not promise him regular game time.
That was a decision Wilshere now regrets.
He said in August: “Honestly, I should have never left. That’s nothing against West Ham — it could have been anyone — but I shouldn’t have left Arsenal.
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“I had a conversation with Arsene [Wenger] when I came back from Bournemouth. He said, ‘Look, you can leave. You’re not going to get a new contract here’.
"(But) knowing Arsene the way I knew him and how much he rated me as a footballer, I knew if I got myself fit there were lots of games and I could get myself into that team.
“I wish I had that same mentality when I sat down with Emery and he said, ‘Look, there’s a contract on the table but you’re not in my starting XI’.
"I remember walking out angry, because I thought I was going to play, I proved myself the year before.”