The England international midfielder has been reported as a target for rival clubs but he is keen to remain at the Emirates Stadium and put his injury frustrations behind him
Midfielder Jack Wilshere is adamant that his priority is “to be wanted by Arsenal” rather than any rival clubs.
The England international had another season disrupted by injury in 2014-15 but has been linked with a summer move to potentially revitalise his prospects.
Wilshere, though, is keen to stay with the Gunners after their back-to-back FA Cup triumphs and remains confident that he can put his injuries behind him.
He told the press: “I definitely wouldn’t go somewhere just because I’m a homegrown player. I’d want to be wanted by a club. I want to be wanted by Arsenal. I’ve grown up at Arsenal, I’m a homegrown player and, as long as Arsenal want me, then I’m happy.
“There have probably been more lows then highs, although winning the FA Cup makes you realise, after all that hard work in the gym, that it was all worth it.
“It has been a frustrating season for me, getting injured in November and not coming back until April. It is frustrating when you see all the players going out to training and playing in the games but I am back now and hopefully I can have a fully fit season next year.
“I’d come back from the World Cup and my ankle was fine, felt good, and then all of a sudden I got tackled [by Manchester United’s Paddy McNair],” Wilshere explained of his particular troubles last season. “It wasn’t a great tackle but it wasn’t done on purpose. It was just one of those things.
“It was a pretty straightforward injury, quite common in football: just syndesmosis, with the ligaments. I just had to respect the time limit the specialist gave me and, since I’ve been back, I’ve had no problems with it; no pain. I got a cyst around it so they took the wire out but that took four weeks and I was fine. My first ankle injury had been different, as a stress fracture, and the screws they put in had irritated me.”
The midfielder, however, has no intention of adapting his playing style to avoid putting pressure on his legs.
“When I was injured, a few people said I should change my game, I should get it and pass it,” he continued. “It did go through my head. I thought ‘maybe they are right and I should’ … but as soon as I came back and I got on the ball, I just wanted to run with it.
“Look at the best dribblers in the world – Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta – and the ball seems to stick to their foot so I can work on that when I am dribbling but I’m never going to change my game.”