Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere believes his old side would have won the Premier League had the team not been broken up.
Wilshere believes a number of departures dented the Gunners’ chances of Premier League glory, specifically citing the loss of Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas.
The former England international believes that the loss of van Persie to Manchester United for £24m, was a devastating blow for those at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal last won the Premier League in 2004 and Wilshere believes that if the club’s core would have stayed together then they would have achieved domestic glory.
"I was devastated," Wilshere told the BBC's 606 Savage Social podcast. "He had just scored 30 goals the season before. He was our captain.
"It felt like we were just about to challenge [for the title] again and all of a sudden he left to go to our biggest rivals.
"It was difficult to take.
"I was there when Fabregas left, Nasri left, big players.
"If we had kept that team together I think we would have gone on to win the Premier League - and who knows from there?"
Wilshere opted to leave the Gunners after 10 years in 2018 to join up with West Ham and admits he knew times were changing at the Emirates.
"I sat down with my family and my wife. Arsene had announced he was leaving, and it felt like the right time to move on," he added.
"I had done it before [joining Bournemouth on loan]. I knew there was life outside of Arsenal. I just thought it was the right time to move on. Times were changing at Arsenal.
"I spoke with the new manager who said: 'You can stay but you are not in my starting XI.'
"Arsene knew what I could do and trusted me. I knew if I got fit, I would play and I didn't get that vibe off Emery.
"It was tough."
