A few years ago, Jack Wilshere was rated as one of the most exciting young players within English football. After making an impression in the Gunners famous victory against Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium, dominating a midfield that saw him battle World Cup winner Andres Iniesta, expectations were high for the Arsenal academy graduate.

Unfortunately, consistent injury problems have meant Wilshere has been unable to continue his development fully and he’s dropped down the pecking order at both club level and on the international stage as a result, with many questioning whether he will ever get back on his feet.

A loan spell at Bournemouth last year helped Wilshere secure the regular football he needed but his woes continued, as he picked up a hairline fracture towards the back end of the campaign that ended his spell on the South Coast prematurely and forced him to miss Arsenal’s pre-season tour of Australia and China.

Wilshere was amongst the wealth of players that returned to training at London Colney yesterday though, putting him with a chance of featuring for Arsenal in the Emirates Cup this weekend, but questions on his future remain as his current deal has less than 12 months remaining.

Arsenal’s midfield is stocked with talent and Wilshere will face a huge test forcing his way into a line-up as Aaron Ramsey, Granit Xhaka, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny and many others will be aiming to secure similar opportunities.

That’s led many to suggest that Arsenal should cut their ties with Wilshere and allow the 25-year-old to leave North London but handing the England ace an exit would be the wrong decision- and Arsenal need to give him at least one more year.

If the same injury problems arrive in the next 12 months it would be difficult to defend Wilshere’s position but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain showed last season that patience can be rewarded, as the former Southampton man shook off his own consistent injury issues to become one of Arsenal’s best performers in the final months of the campaign.

For all the talent that Arsenal boast, the Gunners are short of British players who have worked their way through the ranks in North London and Wilshere is a rare breed, as well as being a capable footballer who could become a top-class asset for Arsene Wenger next year.

Opportunities are sure to hand themselves to Wilshere at some stage next season and it’s down to him to grab those chances with both hands, all Arsenal and the fans do is support him and hope that he finds his way out of the mud.