Martin Keown has explained what Jack Wilshere must do if he wants to get back into the Arsenal team.
Wilshere made his first Arsenal start in over a year during the 1-0 win over Doncaster on Wednesday.
Fit again after a fractured leg, Wilshere is back in contention for a first team place.
He faces stiff competition from Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey in the centre of midfield, while Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil block off the more attacking positions in the team.
Asked what Wilshere needs to do to get more games at Arsenal, Martin Keown explained that he needs to remain fit and available.
“He needs an injury to happen to one of Arsenal’s first choice players – presumably Xhaka – to get a chance,” Keown wrote in his column for The Daily Mail.
“Jack Wilshere won’t get in ahead of Aaron Ramsey because he’s right-footed and you need that balance and movement.
“Every time Wilshere has been involved, he still has something available to offer. If Xhaka’s form was to dip, then he would have an opportunity and you would imagine he could take it.
“He needs to be available every week. I think it’s good news for Arsene Wenger. I can’t remember him playing 90 minutes recently. Bournemouth was a good opportunity for Jack. They only played one game a week.
“Wenger might need to pick him for three over a week. Jack needs to be ready for that. Let’s see, but I think Wenger will be happy to have him available and still at the club. It might just be cameo appearances for now.
“Jack himself can assess the situation in January. If he’s not happy, Wenger will let him leave on loan – he’s shown that before.”
There have been many false dawns with Wilshere.
Long periods of injury have been followed by encouraging spells back in the first team, before injury inevitably struck again.
With his contract expiring in the summer, this could be Wilshere’s final chance to prove he can stay fit and play for Arsenal.
Arsenal plan to rotate the squad for the Europa League and Carabao Cup. So long as Wilshere is fit for those games, Wenger will play him.