Jack Wilshere: Arsenal midfielder not thinking about new Gunners contract after Bournemouth debut

Wilshere has made a season-long loan move to the south coast club in search of regular football

Jack Wilshere made his debut for Bournemouth against West Bromwich (Getty)

Jack Wilshere insists he not thinking about extending his Arsenal contract, insisting that right now, he considers himself to be a Bournemouth player.

Wilshere has made a season-long loan move to the south coast club in search of the regular football Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, was unable to guarantee him as the midfielder attempts to revive his career after a succession of serious injuries.

Wenger, though, spoke positively last week about his hope Wilshere will return to north London and see out his career at the Emirates Stadium and raised the possibility talks could open in December about a new deal that would extend the player’s current contract that expires at the end of next season.

Wilshere, though, insists his priority is to make his mark at his new club. “I don’t really want to talk about that at the moment,” he said. “I’ve come here and I just want to get as many games as possible. I’m a Bournemouth player now in my head. I want to help Bournemouth get as high up the league and possible and also for myself I want to play 25 or 30 games this year. So I’m not really thinking about contracts or anything, I’m taking each game as it comes and working hard at training and in the gym to give myself the best opportunity I can at the weekend.”

Wilshere made a 28-minute appearance, contributing to Bournemouth’s strong late finish that was capped by Callum Wilson’s first goal since the forward returned from a serious knee injury in April. The next target is for Wilshere to complete a full Premier League game for the first time in two years although that could take some time.

“Obviously I want to play but I am feeling good at the minute,” said Wilshere. “I am training well so I am just happy to come on and play my part. I don’t know really (when I’ll be back to my best), it’s a tough question. I’m not sure, but I think you’ll be able to tell. I feel good at the moment. I think now all I need is games. You can train all you want but there is nothing like the intensity and the challenge of a Premier League game."

A first league win and the introduction of potentially one of the brightest talents in the league marked a successful weekend for Eddie Howe, the Bournemouth manager. For West Brom manager Tony Pulis, however, defeat drew only heavy criticism from the visiting supporters and underlined the club is in a period of stagnation before the takeover of the club by Chinese businessman Guochuan Lai.

Pulis responded to reaction of the supporters by defending his record in keeping the club in the Premier League during a period when the club was up for sale. “The only way to go forward, you have to improve the squad,” said the manager. “You’ve seen today we needed to bring other players in and we’ve not been able to do that, for all sorts of reasons. But we needed to.”