Wenger: Wilshere will be offered new Arsenal contract

Doubts over Jack Wilshere's future at Arsenal could finally be put to rest after manager Arsene Wenger revealed Friday that the midfielder will be offered a new contract to stay in north London.

After he was loaned to Bournemouth during the summer transfer window amid concerns over playing time with the Gunners, the oft-injured Wilshere disclosed his doubts over whether he would return to Arsenal or move to another club.

However, a day before Wilshere and Bournemouth travel to the Emirates Stadium for Saturday's Premier League contest, Wenger confirmed the club will offer the 24-year-old midfielder a new contract.

"Yes of course (we will offer him a new deal)," Wenger told reporters, according to James Olley of the Evening Standard. "At the moment, I leave him to deal with his manager. Every week I ask, ‘How did he play?', I read the reports and when I can see highlights or watch him on television, I will watch him. I’m happy that he hasn’t had any injuries since he left us."

Wenger added that he and representatives from the club will meet around New Year to discuss the matter as Wilshere enters the final 18 months of his current deal.

"I am happy that he develops well, I think it was basically in the end a big decision for him to go," Wenger continued. "He gets regular football and now on the observations I get from our people who watch him, he’s getting stronger every week.

"That’s exactly what he needed - to have regular football, maybe not every three days but every week at the start. That’s helped him a lot to develop and come back to the level he deserves to be at."

Wilshere has been a positive influence in manager Eddie Howe's Bournemouth side, appearing in 11 Premier League matches to help the club climb into 10th place in the table.

Fortunately for Arsenal fans, the hosts won't have to face Wilshere as Premier League rules forbid loanees from playing against their parent club.

Though his future appears to be in north London, Wilshere will have his Bournemouth pom-poms out when he watches from the sidelines.

"I am a Bournemouth player, so I want Bournemouth to win," Wilshere joked.