Arsenal manager Unai Emery has questioned the reasons as to why the Gunners opted to allow midfielder Jack Wilshere to leave at the end of his contract at the end of last season.

The 26-year-old Wilshere arrived at the London Stadium during the summer on a free-transfer after having spent the past 17-years with the Gunners. He was so determined to remain with his boyhood club that he was even prepared to take a pay-cut, however new manager Emery failed to give him assurances over first-team football. The summer arrivals of Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi also meant that Wilshere’s chances of first-team football this season with Emery’s squad would have been limited at best.

During his 11-years at Arsenal, Wilshere managed to make 125 Premier League appearances. He was once heralded as the future of English football but has sadly seen his career progress stalled due to injury. On his day though, he can still be a destructive player and if he delivers for West Ham during the course of this season, a recall to the England national team cannot be ruled out.

The Hammers have started the season in poor form. They were thrashed 4-0 against Liverpool during their opening League clash of this season and followed that up with a 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth last weekend.

They next play against Arsenal this weekend. The clash will see two teams who have so far attained 0 points in the League facing off against each other. Both sides will be hungry to record their first points of this season.

It will be an emotional encounter for Wilshere as he will be coming up against his boyhood club for the first time. Nevertheless, it will be an opportunity to prove to Emery what he has missed out on.

“I played here three years against Arsenal, and before that with Villarreal in the Champions League,” said Pellegrini as quoted by Goal. 

“Jack was always a very good player. I don’t know the reason why he finished his contract with Arsenal.

“I don’t know why Arsenal allowed him to come here.”