Wilshere fought for Arsenal place after Wenger said he could leave

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere was told by manager Arsene Wenger that he was free to leave the Premier League club before the start of the season but the 26-year-old opted to fight for his place. The England international has struggled to hold down a starting place in recent years after battling serious injuries and spent the last campaign on loan at Bournemouth before sustaining a season-ending leg fracture in April. Wilshere was told he could leave with around a month remaining in the summer transfer window but felt offers from other clubs were not enticing enough and he had yet to regain full fitness.

Jack Wilshere: Wenger 'said if you can get a contract elsewhere you can go'. By @domfifield https://t.co/kV5YI6NlD1

— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) March 21, 2018

"It was an honest conversation," Wilshere told British media. "He (Wenger) said, 'I am going to be honest with you and at the moment we are not going to be offering you a contract, so if you can get a contract somewhere else, you can go'. "Obviously, I was not happy with that but at the same time I was happy he was being honest. "He also said at the same time that if I did stay I had an opportunity to fight for my place, and if I performed well in the League Cup and Europa League, I had a chance." Wilshere has fought to regain his first team spot, making 31 appearances for the club this season and earning an England call-up for the first time since 2016.

Stoke City & England goalkeeper Jack Butland says that Jack Wilshere is the best player in the England squad: pic.twitter.com/AAlYt0IJYu

— MG (@BulletHeaderEN) March 20, 2018

The midfielder's contract expires at the end of the season and Wilshere is keen to seal his future before the World Cup finals begin in June. "I have got three months left on my contract. Ideally, yes, I want it sorted as soon as possible. I want to go to the World Cup and enjoy it...," Wilshere added. "Ideally from my point of view and the club's point of view, they will probably want it sorted."

Wilshere: Wenger told me I could leave Arsenalhttps://t.co/BYhhlQGJ8Z pic.twitter.com/aFq9c7Op5q

— Goal UK (@GoalUK) March 22, 2018

England play a friendly away at the Netherlands on Friday before hosting Italy four days later.