Jack Wilshere: 'England snub convinced me to leave Arsenal'

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 01 November 2016

Jack Wilshere reveals that he sought a loan move to Bournemouth from Arsenal because he was left out of Sam Allardyce's England squad.

Jack Wilshere has revealed that being left out of Sam Allardyce's England squad sparked him into instigating a loan move to Bournemouth from Arsenal.

The midfielder, who has made just five appearances for the Gunners since May 2015 due to injuries, has started eight of the nine games that he has been involved in at Bournemouth this season.

Wilshere was part of Roy Hodgson's England setup for the European Championships in the summer, but he did not make it into Allardyce's squad in August during the manager's short spell in charge.

"When the England squad was announced and I wasn't in it, it hurt me," Wilshere said in an interview with Sky Sports News. "I want to be part of the England squad. I feel like I'm good enough, I can make a difference in the team and when I was left out, it sparked something in me.

"I thought 'I need a change. I need to be part of a team where I'm going to play week in, week out, be an important member of the team and make a difference.'

"The player I am and the character I am, to get the best out of me I need to feel responsibility and be part of a team that needs me, so that's the main reason I came - to play football and prove to everyone I can play week in, week out. My body can take it and at the moment, I'm feeling good and it looks like a good decision."

Wilshere joined Arsenal when he was nine years old.