Arsenal transfer news: Jack Wilshere should leave Gunners on free transfer next summer says Charlie Nicholas

Former Arsenal forward Charlie Nicholas has urged Jack Wilshere to not commit future at the Emirates and leave the Gunners when his contract expires next summer.

The England international saw his first team opportunities limited in the last few seasons. The north London club's manager Arsene Wenger allowed the midfielder to join AFC Bournemouth on loan last season.

An injury in April forced Wilshere to spend on the sidelines and he missed the early part of this campaign. He has made only one start in the Premier League, which came in Arsenal's goalless draw against West Ham United on 13 December.

Wilshere's current deal will expire in 2018 and the ex-Bournemouth man revealed there have been no progress in talks over his future. The Frenchman admitted the Gunners will discuss his future at the end of December.

Nicholas believes Arsenal have invested the majority of the time in convincing Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez commit their future to Arsenal. During this process, they have "forgotten" about other players at the club, which has resulted in key players demanding hefty wages to sign a new deal.

"Personally, I want him to stay because his talent belongs at Arsenal. We will all question his fitness but that will happen wherever he goes," Nicholas told Sky Sports.

"But because Arsenal are being dictated to by [Mesut] Ozil and [Alexis] Sanchez and others, they've forgotten about all the other parts of the team and they're held to ransom now. Wilshere is having to sit there and prove himself again.

"I want him to stay at Arsenal but if I'm Jack then I would say 'I should run this contract down' because he's got a big decision to make. Whether it's January or May then so be it."

Wilshere has made 14 appearances in all competitions, which includes eight starts. In this process, he has scored once and registered two assists.