‘Wilshere can grow into advanced role’

Arsene Wenger is confident that Jack Wilshere can flourish in an advanced midfield role.

Wilshere has been in excellent form since returning from a long-term injury in October, with his combative and box-to-box displays drawing plaudits from team-mates and pundits alike.

The only facet seemingly missing from the 21-year-old’s game at present is goals. Wilshere has found the net twice in 25 appearances this season, but Wenger believes the midfielder will soon start to score more regularly.

“I believe it’s part of his development to play a bit more advanced,” the manager said. “You can always come deeper. He likes to come deep. In some games, he’s more comfortable deeper.

“I believe he has a little dribble that can get him through in the final third and the finishing will come. He’s a bit in a situation like Fabregas was for a while. He [Fabregas] said ‘But I cannot score goals’ but you could see it would come.

“He [Wilshere] doesn’t talk about it [a lack of goals]. Who doesn’t want to score goals? I’ve never met anybody who is an offensive player that doesn’t want to score goals.

“He’s more a team player than a goalscorer. He’ll never be a goalscorer but he can be capable of scoring.”

Team-mate Santi Cazorla says Wilshere’s eye-catching displays have helped his own game, and Wenger is hoping the England international can follow the goalscoring example set by his midfield partner, who has struck 11 times since arriving from Malaga.

“Cazorla is now 28,” Wenger said. “Before, he was never in double figures in his whole life. He comes to us and he’s at 11 already.

“That means, first of all, that we play a very offensive game and secondly, that you can develop that [the goalscoring knack] at any age.

“Jack can go past somebody and give you the ball and that is very important when you play in midfield.”