Wilshere not expecting January contract extension at Arsenal

Jack Wilshere is not expecting to sign a new contract at Arsenal during the January transfer window, with the midfielder prepared to be patient.

The England international is among those at Emirates Stadium set to hit free agency at the end of the season if fresh terms are not put in place.

He has, however, expressed a desire to stay on, unlike club colleagues Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.

Wilshere remains confident that an extension will be agreed to prolong his stay in north London, but he has suggested that no agreement is imminent.

“There's not a decision to make in January,” the 26-year-old midfielder told Sky Sports.

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“I've still got six months left of my contract, I'm an Arsenal player and I'm enjoying playing week in, week out.

“I've had loads of questions about my future and there's nothing more I can say until something's official and we can concentrate on the future but right now, I'm concentrating on each game as it comes.

“I've just got back into the team and the club, I suppose, were just waiting for that moment where I've proved my fitness and I've proved that I can play in the Premier League each week for a top club so now that's happened.

“We're not waiting for anything really, maybe the right time when there's a little break in the fixtures - which there's not - but I'm sure in a couple of weeks, something will get done or the boss will say something and we'll go from there.”

For now, Wilshere is focused on shaking off another untimely injury and maintaining the fine form he has displayed over recent weeks.

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He is also hoping to force his way into Gareth Southgate’s thoughts ahead of the 2018 World Cup, while taking the captain’s armband at Arsenal on a full-time basis following recent outings as stand-in skipper is another long-term target.

Wilshere added: “I want to be Arsenal captain. I really enjoyed the other night [against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup], it was my first start as captain and walking the boys out was a special feeling for me and my family so that is something that I want to do. I never really stopped dreaming about that.

“There was a time last year when Arsenal were playing against Bournemouth at the Vitality where I sat in the crowd watching and thinking 'am I going to go back to Arsenal and play?' but apart from that, I never really thought about not becoming the player everyone thought I would be or not fulfilling my potential.

“I just wanted to prove my fitness at Bournemouth then come back here and try and get into the team. I played the long game and I worked hard. I'm not saying that's over but I'm in the team now and I need to work even harder maybe to keep my place and improve as a player as well.”