Jack Wilshere claims Arsene Wenger was 'sacked' by Arsenal

ByAlexander Netherton

Updated 12/08/2018 at 14:24 GMT

Jack Wiishere has said that former Arsenal boss was 'sacked' by the club, despite the club and manager saying he was stepping down by his own choice.

Wenger said that, 'the time is right for me to step down,' after it was announced that he was leaving the club, but has since said, 'the timing was not really my decision.'

The Frenchman had a year remaining on his contract but left without completing the final season.

West Ham United's English midfielder Jack Wilshere runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and West Ham United

Image credit: Getty Images

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Speaking to Football Focus on BBC, Wilshere said:

"I was in the last year of my contract, and I spoke with the manager at the time, Arsene Wenger, and he said that they won't be offering me a new deal and that I could leave.

"But at the time I was injured and it was difficult, because I wasn't fit and I wasn't playing, and not many teams wanted me injured.

"So I decided to stay and I got back into the team and they finally offered me a deal in January which I was ready to sign, and then Arsene got sacked.

"It was strange, everyone was just shocked and Per Mertesacker, the captain, said a few words, and I think everyone was just in shock.

"It was strange. No-one really saw it coming, but it changed everything, and I wanted to wait to speak to the new manager. And I did, and he was brilliant, he was honest with me.

"He said you can stay, but you won't be in my starting XI, so I thought it was the right time to finally leave."

Wilshere left Arsena to join West Ham on a free transfer after a year on loan at Bournemouth last season.

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