Jack Wilshere will bring creativity back to Arsenal’s midfield, according to Martin Keown.

The former Arsenal centre-back believes Sunday’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City proved Arsene Wenger’s men were missing creativity in the middle of the pitch.

The Gunners spent much of the game defending in their own half as City dominated possession. Occasionally, they would have periods of pressure in City’s half, but lacked the cutting edge in the final third to make any real difference.

Keown reckons that had Wilshere been on the pitch, that wouldn’t have been a problem.

“This defeat proved that it is time for Jack Wilshere to return to Arsenal’s first team,” he wrote in the Daily Mail. “Arsene Wenger’s game plan was to stop Manchester City playing and for periods, it worked. But where was Arsenal’s midfield creativity?

“They were not able to play the way they wanted in the final third and that is where Wilshere would have made a difference. He commits defenders, he creates space, he finds that pass for Alexis Sanchez or Alexandre Lacazette.”

Keown went on to ponder if Wilshere should replace Mesut Ozil or Granit Xhaka in the staring line-up. He’s convinced the English international is closer to returning to Arsene Wenger’s first-choice line-up.

“Sanchez and Mesut Ozil did not have good games. If they are not going to sign contracts, then Arsenal have to start looking to the future. Does Wenger play Wilshere instead of Ozil, or in midfield in place of Granit Xhaka?”

“Wenger heads into another international break at a crossroads. Once more he has to go back to the drawing board to work out his best XI — and Wilshere is ever closer to making the cut.”

Bringing Wilshere back into the fold might not be a bad idea, in my opinion. There are far worse players Wenger can rely upon. However, when neither Mesut Ozil or Alexis Sanchez can provide any creativity on the day, the 25-year-old is hardly going to make things better.

It should also be noted that while Arsenal should be thinking long-term, Wilshere himself is out of contract in the summer. He came off the bench against City, but didn’t have enough time to really make a difference.