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Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere needs regular Premier League games, says Alan Smith

Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith is shocked by Jack Wilshere situation at the club
Image: Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith says Wilshere should stay in the Premier League

Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith believes Jack Wilshere needs a move away from Arsenal to play regularly, but he should stay in the Premier League.

Wilshere was made available for loan this week with Arsenal keen to find him first-team football with another club, and the 24-year-old is considering loan moves in England and across Europe.

SSNHQ understand no formal bid has been made for the midfielder, who was left out of Sam Allardyce's first England squad due to a lack of first-team football.

Wilshere has less than 48 hours to find a new club before Wednesday's transfer deadline
Image: Wilshere has less than 48 hours to find a new club before Wednesday's transfer deadline

"It will be interesting to see where he goes and how he does when he goes there, but a player of his ability needs to be playing football," said Smith. "He should be playing football in the Premier League.

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"It's a shock isn't it? Maybe Jack [Wilshere] looked at the situation and with the likes of [Granit] Xhaka coming in, there's a lot of central midfielders now and with his injury problems, he's obviously fallen down the pecking order a little bit."

Deportivo La Coruna's midfielder Lucas Perez controls the ball during the Spanish league football match RC Deportivo de la Coruna vs Sevilla FC at the Muni
Image: Arsenal have completed the signing of Lucas Perez

Wilshere has had a career ravaged by injury since establishing himself in the Arsenal team in 2010, making just 80 starts in the Premier League, with the bulk of these coming during the 2010/2011 season.

Since 2011, Wilshere has only started some 49 Premier League games and last season he was not included in Arsenal's Champions League squad, starting just once in the league all campaign.

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"I was still a bit surprised to learn that Arsene Wenger would allow him to go out on loan because he is a hugely talented player when he's fully fit," Smith added.

"It might be something that's not permanent but a way of getting back into the Arsenal eleven."

Meanwhile, Arsenal have completed the signing of Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruna.

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