Wilshere's heartbreaking conversation with son on career and Arsenal regret

Currently a free agent, Jack Wilshere has conceded life without a club has proved difficult as his children grill on him why no side has taken a chance on him since his short-term contract at Bournemouth expired.

Few players have been seemingly more destined for sure-fire success than Wilshere, the former Luton Town boy with La Masia ability, but injuries have curtailed a career that could have offered so much more.

Once described as boasting "Spanish technique, but an English heart" by former boss Arsene Wenger, Wilshere had all the makings to become a staple of silverware-winning Arsenal sides for years to come, but now finds himself training alone in a bid to build up his fitness in the hopes his phone will ring with an offer.

Jack Wilshere left Arsenal in 2018 after a decade in the first team that followed seven years in the academy. Despite calling time on his 17-year Arsenal stay in 2018, a decade of which was spent in the first team, Wilshere maintains a good rapport with the Gunners faithful - to whom he will always be 'Super Jack Wilshere'.

However, the 29-year-old has admitted the demise of his career is often the subject of intense questioning from those closest to him in his four children; Archie and Delilah from a previous relationship, Siena and Jack Junior with wife Andriani.

Wilshere said : "My kinds are at an age where they understand. Especially Archie, who's nine. He's actually having conversations with me saying, 'What about the MLS?' or 'Why aren't you playing in La Liga?'

"He loves football. He knows everything about football. And it is difficult to explain to him. He'll say to me 'How come no club wants you?' I don't know. But how do I explain to him?"

English football has rarely seen a player so young look so assured back when Wilshere first broke into the Arsenal senior set-up, his man of the match display at home to Barcelona in the Champions League remains a highlight of the Emirates era for every member of the Arsenal fanbase.

But while 2011 brought effortlessly elegant performances against the likes of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta - seven years later a new challenge presented itself in the wake of Wenger's Arsenal departure.

Wilshere followed his mentor out of the Emirates exit door, to ply his trade for boyhood club West Ham United in a move that failed to pan out the way the former England international would have hoped.

"Honestly, I should have never left, that's nothing against West Ham - it could have been anyone - but I shouldn't have left Arsenal.

"I had a conversation with Arsene when I came back from Bournemouth (after his first spell at the Vitality on loan in 2016-17) He said, 'Look, you can leave, you're not going to get a new contract here.' Knowing Arsene the way I knew him and how much he rated me as a footballer, I knew if I got myself fit there were lots of games and I could myself into that team.

I wish I had that same mentality when I sat down with Emery and he said 'Look, there's a contract on the table but you're not in my starting XI.' I thought I was going to play - I proved myself the year before. I probably made a few rash decisions. I rang my agent and said 'That's it, we need to leave.'

"I should have taken a few days, calmed down and thought to myself again, 'I look around this midfield and back myself to get in'."

Wilshere's career was plagued by injuries, which eventually led to his retirement.