Former Arsenal player Ray Parlour thinks the Gunners should consider signing Jack Wilshere as a free agent.
Wilshere has been training with Mikel Arteta's side for the past few months as he looks to improve his fitness whilst he searches for a new club.
However, despite being linked to several players in January, the Gunners failed to add a central midfielder to their squad, and after allowing Ainsley Maitland-Niles to leave on loan to Roma, they're undeniably short in the position.
With that in mind, Parlour thinks it may be wise to sign Wilshere as an emergency option, just in case anything happens to their first-choice midfield.
Speaking to TalkSPORT, via HITC, Parlour said: “He’s training with them every day now. I don’t think he’d be used, if I’m being honest. But if there was a massive injury crisis, you never know in football what can happen. You could get two or three midfield players injured.
“If he thinks he’s competitive enough, because we all know what a player he was, Jack, absolutely brilliant. I’m so shocked that he hasn’t got a club if I’m honest, at his age, because I’m sure he can bring a lot to different clubs."
That being said, Arteta has been vocal about the topic in the past, and has always insisted that Wilshere will not be making a return on the field in an Arsenal shirt.
When asked whether he could rule out a deal for Wilshere to temporarily solve the Gunners' January depth issues, Arteta replied: "I think I was very clear on the situation with Jack and the role he's going to have around here and we will continue the same way."
Although it looks unlikely for now, it's a trick that's worked in the past.
Thierry Henry was brought back to the Emirates on a two-month loan contract in 2012 as Arsene Wenger's side struggled with injuries. The Frenchman even helped score two winning goals against Leeds and Sunderland in the FA Cup and Premier League, respectively.
That's not to say Wilshere will have a similar impact if he were return, but having strength in depth in case of emergencies surely can't be a bad thing.
