“Mesut Ozil might be in the bracket” – Ray Parlour believes Jack Wilshere is being held back by Arsenal team-mates

Former Arsenal star midfielder Ray Parlour Jack Wilshere is being held back by a lack of quality in the Gunners midfield.

The England international has re-established himself as a first-team regular in Arsene Wenger’s side after spending last season out on loan at Bournemouth.

Wilshere appears to have overcome his injury problems and was one of the few Arsenal players who played with any conviction in the Carabao Cup final against Man City.

According to Parlour, Wilshere’s lack of progress at Arsenal is down to the players he is playing with.

“The big question is, is Jack playing around players who are on his level at Arsenal?” Parlour told TalkSport.

“I’m not knocking Granit Xhaka or people like that, but now Oxlade-Chamberlain is playing in that Liverpool team he’s probably thinking, ‘I’m playing with top class players here’.

“I know you could say Mesut Ozil might be in the bracket, but Sanchez has obviously left now and with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, we’ll have to wait and see if he’s good enough to play week-in week-out and he puts the performances in.

“I just think questions will be asked if Oxlade-Chamberlain improves that much and maybe pushes himself into the England squad under Jurgen Klopp.

“I totally understand that now.

“He wasn’t used enough at Arsenal. He always wanted to play in central midfield and he didn’t get that opportunity, he played on the right instead.

“You’ve got to do your job for the team sometimes and play in different positions, but now he’s got that opportunity at Liverpool to do that.”

Wilshere is approaching ten years as a first-team player at Arsenal, however, could end up leaving the club for free in the summer.

The 26-year-old has under four months left on his contract and despite on-going contract negotiations, has not put pen-to-paper on a new deal.

Arsenal take on Manchester City once again this weekend as they look to return to winning ways.