Jack Wilshere must get fitter and injured less or his Arsenal future is at risk, says Arsene Wenger
Gunners boss insists the England midfielder's 'exceptional ability' is not in doubt - but claims his health is the priority
ARSENE WENGER has warned Jack Wilshere to get fitter and injured less - or put his Arsenal career at risk.
Midfielder Wilshere claimed last week he is fitter than ever and was delighted to hear England boss Gareth Southgate say he could still earn a World Cup call-up next summer.
But Gunners chief Wenger told beIN Sports the 25-year-old has until December to prove himself.
Wenger said: "Today the requests and demands in the competitions are so high physically that you can only be your best physically if you can play at least 10 games on the trot.
“Wilshere struggled historically with repeated injuries.
“Nobody would question his talent. Nobody would question his exceptional ability to beat people with the ball. But in this job you need first health.
“That is what’s at stake for Jack Wilshere. Keep health and compete and be capable to compete.
“If he can play from now until December at the top level he will be back.
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"If there are other setbacks then it will be difficult for him.
“It’s a vital season, it’s the end of his contract, a World Cup year. He’s an Arsenal player since he’s a kid so all that is at stake for him."
Wenger added, though: “You would love a player like him, of that quality, to come back.
"In fact he had a very good game in BATE Borisov, a very brilliant first half when he was back to his best.
"So he’s not far away now. But let’s hope in the next two to three weeks he can play regularly in the first team.”
Wilshere himself told Arsenal.com: "My fitness levels, if I’m honest, are probably the best they’ve ever been.
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"I look at my numbers after the game and I’ve been out for four months and I’m not the one who hasn’t run the most.. my numbers are good so I’m happy."
The former Bournemouth loanee, whose last England call-up was 11 months ago, added: "I always hear the boss say it is my first five-metre burst, when I receive the ball and to get away from defenders and I feel that’s getting better and better each day.
“I feel like the way to improve that is in games when you’re playing against opposition that want to win and want to win the ball back and you have to be able to keep the ball. "That’s coming back."
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