Lee Dixon believes that Jack Wilshere is Arsenal’s most important player and should be the first name on the team sheet.

Speaking ahead of the Spurs clash on Saturday, Dixon hailed Jack’s drive, as well as skill.

“We all know what a good player he is and how he plays the game,” Dixon told BBC 5 Live, reports the Daily Star.

“And we all enjoy watching him play, I’m speaking for everybody I think.

“He’s a player that you enjoy watching because he’s got drive, he’s got determination, he’s got skill on the ball.

“He’s a good passer and all of that sort of stuff.

“For a north London derby he’s got the perfect snap in his tackle and in his demeanour and you definitely need that.

“I just think we miss a little bit of that in our side and certainly Jack would be number one on the team sheet for me.”

Even though the Arsenal legend said this ahead of the North London derby, after the lacklustre display, it’s looking even more crucial that the 26-year-old stays at the club.

wilshere tottenham
(Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Despite not having the best match personally, Jack was still one of Arsenal’s stronger players. He only completed 73% of his passes (Arsenal’s average was 81%), completed two dribbles, had two shots, won one tackle and failed to make a single key pass. But still, he had more fight in him than the majority of players in red-and-white.

Jack’s attitude was summed up after the final whistle when Erik Lamela, who had previously picked up a yellow for a late tackle on the midfielder, laughed in his face and Jack lunged towards him.

The England international now has under six months on his contract at Arsenal and although Arsene Wenger continues to insist that he wants Jack to stay, there’s still no word on whether he actually will.

“I’m positive, because I want [Wilshere] to stay. I do the maximum I can to make him happy,” Wenger said, reports the Daily Mirror.

While Jack may not be on the same level as someone like Mesut Ozil when it comes to ability, he’s raw and passionate and therefore just as important.

I can think of few players who Arsenal fans would be more gutted to lose.