Arsene Wenger reportedly warned Jack Wilshere that he is playing for his Arsenal future during his loan spell at Bournemouth for the rest of the season.
The 24-year-old sealed the temporary move to join Eddie Howe’s men on deadline day, as he looks to secure regular football to prove both his fitness and quality after struggling for playing time at the Emirates.
According to The Sun, it came in a heart-to-heart talk with Wenger on Monday where it was agreed that he will have to work hard to kick-start his Gunners career again.
It’s added that the England international requested the move away from north London after being left out of Sam Allardyce’s first squad, as he now hopes to make his case to secure his position for both club and country beyond this season.
Wenger warned him that he needed to use his spell with Bournemouth ‘wisely’ and that the move should be viewed as an opportunity to improve his all-round game, with The Sun going on to add that a source told them it was a “grown up” phone conversation that the pair shared.
Wilshere made his debut for the Cherries in their friendly against AC Milan in a testimonial at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, but he will now be desperate to become a regular fixture in the Premier League.
Having been blighted by injuries in recent years, the Gunners midfielder has failed to make the progress that many envisaged he would, and so now he will need to stay fit and perform to silence his detractors and prove to Wenger that he deserves to move up the pecking order on his return to Arsenal.