Arsene Wenger has hailed Jack Wilshere as a possible future permanent Arsenal captain.
The 26-year-old was handed the armband in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth despite entering the final six months of his existing contract.
Talks have begun over an extension with Wilshere understood to have been offered £80,000-a-week plus add-ons, based on performance.
The Gunners are wary of Wilshere’s chequered injury history but Wenger is keen to keep the midfielder.
And the Frenchman said: "I see him here because he is an Arsenal man. He was here at the age of 10 and I believe as well he’s not only been here for a long time but he has some leadership qualities.
"He has a football brain. He is completely focussed on Arsenal. The fact that he has been away and come back … he realises as well that life here is not so bad maybe.
"That is something that is important that he can be one of the leaders in the future."
Arsenal were beaten at Bournemouth on a day most associated with the club will want to forget but Wilshere is believed to have kept the armband as a souvenir of the occasion.
"Who would question his love and commitment for the club? Nobody. We have to find an agreement that makes him happy and the wish that in the future he remains fit," said Wenger.
"He is much more patient and mature. He analyses better. Before his desire to play was the only thing that mattered. Today he can analyse better. Is he fit or not fit?
"What is he to do? He has a lot of prevention to do and he does that religiously now. Before he was a bit more ‘my body can take that’ like we all are when we are 20 years old."
