Wilshere wants duo retaining

Fabregas is once again being linked with a Barcelona return while Nasri has been expected to leave as he is now in the final year of his contract.

Despite intensifying speculation over the pair's future, Wilshere hopes Arsenal can fend off the circling vultures and keep the duo at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal have now gone six years since winning their last piece of silverware and Wilshere believes with the pair on board they can halt that barren run.

When asked what it would mean for Arsenal to keep the likes of Fabregas and Nasri, Wilshere commented: "It's massive.

"They are our best players. Any team wants to keep their best players.

"You can see with Tottenham they want to keep Modric. They are the best players for the team.

"We have to keep our best players. We know that. We want to win things with our best players."

Mental

Arsenal had been well-placed to end their trophy drought last season and were challenging on four fronts prior to their Carling Cup howler against Birmingham.

A mistake between Lukasz Fabianski and Laurent Koscielny allowed Obafemi Martins to tap home the winner - a mental hammer blow Wilshere says his team-mates never fully recovered from.

"We have to learn from last season. We lost in the last minute against Birmingham and we never really recovered from that.

"Next year we maybe have to be a bit more mentally stronger. Show we're a team and stick together."