Arsène Wenger has signalled a clear desire to offer Jack Wilshere a new contract if he proves his fitness by admitting that it would be “a dream” for the midfielder to finally realise his potential with Arsenal.

Wilshere has been at Arsenal since the age of nine but his career has been horribly disrupted by injuries and, while Wenger said that he was previously “impulsive”, he believes that a more mature character is now emerging.

Wednesday night’s League Cup match against Doncaster Rovers is likely to be Wilshere’s first Arsenal start since May 2016 and represents the continuation of an opportunity this season in the Europa League and League Cup to first force his way back into Premier League contention and then perhaps earn a new contract.

Wenger also still believes that he can maximise a talent that once made him the most sought-after teenage midfielder in Europe. “It’s a dream for all of us,” said Wenger. “I gave Jack his start at 17 years of age. You have to be convinced to play a boy at 17 that he is a special player. He is a special player, but we are all the same in that you need health to work.”

The right attitude is also clearly critical and, following some disciplinary lapses in his earlier years, Wenger now sees a different character.

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“He is absolutely determined to get his place back in the team,” said Wenger. “He got a few knocks and bruises that build a man and at the start it was all very easy for him. Jack has gone through some tough times so he has that density, that fitness now of a man who knows that life is not only easy.

"He had always common sense Jack, but he had an impulsive character. I would say he’s a much more mature man today.”

Wenger also confirmed that Danny Welbeck and Francis Coquelin are now out for at least a month with respective groin and hamstring injuries. Calum Chambers should make his first start of the season tonight at centre-back.