Arsenal Transfer News: Jack Wilshere's Support of Wenger a Great Sign for Club

Arsene Wenger may be the target of criticism from a majority of displeased Arsenal supporters this summer, but one of the Gunners' stars has come to the aid of the longtime boss. 

Jack Wilshere signed a five-year deal to remain at Arsenal not long ago, but he acknowledged in a recent interview with Grace Neal of Zap Sportz that he wouldn't be so keen on playing for the Gunners if Wenger is sent packing in the near future:

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I want to win things with Arsenal and I want to be there in the future. But if the boss leaves then things could change, but Arsenal is always in my heart and by signing a deal for the next five years shows my commitment to them and their commitment to me so at the moment everything is good.

He's been there since 1996 and he's always delivered trophies. Okay we've had a little dip in the last five or six years but he's a great manager and people who question his ability are ridiculous.

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Wilshere would go on to point out Wenger's many successes with Arsenal, including the fact that the Gunners have qualified for Champions League football 16 times in 17 years with the Frenchman at the helm.

The fact that Wilshere was willing to defend Wenger so passionately is a great sign for the club moving forward. If players of Wilshere's caliber are willing to back Wenger, then clearly he has the respect of his players and his presence is still making an impact. 

The 21-year-old midfielder also discussed Arsenal's batch of young talent, which if developed and utilized properly could help lift the Gunners to new heights in the years to come. In that regard, Wilshere's stance on how Arsenal should approach the future is almost identical to Wenger's. 

Wenger has maintained throughout the summer that the Gunners have talent on their squad already and don't need to spend millions just for the sake of bringing in notable names. 

While that's never going to be what fans want to hear in the offseason, supporting his current players publicly with statements like that no doubt boosts morale in the dressing room.

It's possible Arsenal could still add a quality player or two before the summer transfer window closes on Sept. 2. However, even if the Gunners come up dry, they'll field a confident team this season—one anchored by Jack Wilshere in midfield.

The fact that one of Arsenal's biggest names is willing to follow Wenger right out of Holloway says a lot about the level of respect his players have for him, and it has to be encouraging for Arsenal fans as the Gunners take aim at both the Premier League and Champions League this season.

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