Jack Wilshere could be set for an Arsenal lifeline after Arsene Wenger hinted at a more prominent role for the Gunners in the coming weeks.
The England international has consistently struggled with injuries and saw is productive loan spell with Bournemouth cut short due to an ankle problem.
But Wenger has been impressed by his impact for the Gunners in recent weeks. A positive display vs. BATE Borisov could now lead to the 25-year-old reigniting his career.
"Jack Wilshere struggled historically with repeated injuries and no one could question his talent, nobody would question his exceptional ability to beat people with the ball," Wenger told beIN Sports.
"But in this job you need to have health. The requests and demands of the competition, physically, are so high and you can only be at your best if you can play at least 10 games on the trot. That's what's at stake for Jack Wilshere.
"He needs to keep his health and be capable of competing. If he can play from now until December at the top level, he will be back. If he has other set backs then it will be more difficult.
"It's a vital season because he's nearing the end of his contract, it's a World Cup year and he has been an Arsenal player since he was a kid, so all that's at stake for him and for us as well because you'd love a player like him of that quality to come back.
"In fact he had a very good game in BATE Borisov, especially a very brilliant first half where he was back to his best, so he's not far away now. Let's hope in the next two or three weeks he can play regularly in the first team."