Jack Wilshere has opened up on his regular disagreements with former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger about which position he should play in.
Wilshere came through the ranks with the Gunners and broke into the first-team aged only 16.
Under Wenger's tuition, the central midfielder became one of the hottest prospects in the country and Wilshere won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2010-11.
His dazzling campaign a decade ago included his famous masterclass against a star-studded Barcelona in the Champions League as the Gunners triumphed 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
Although Wilshere's development was plagued by injuries, he continued to show glimpses of form before moving to West Ham United in 2018.
And the 28-year-old claims that his best displays were in the deeper role he was used in for England rather than the advanced position Wenger preferred him in.
"We disagreed on that a few times. But we laughed about it as well," Wilshere told Arsenal’s In Lockdown podcast.
"When I first got into the team I played on the right wing and I actually really enjoyed it. I never saw myself playing there but I really enjoyed it, cutting in from the right, taking either a shot or a through ball and I really enjoyed it.
"Then when I started playing in the Premier League, we used to play a 4-2-3-1 and I’d play in the two in midfield. I think that was only because of the injuries at the time but then I took my opportunity, he stuck by me and I learnt that position that year.
"But then when I came back from that injury, I think he saw me playing further forward. He wanted me to play as a No.10 and, don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy it but I found it more difficult playing there.
"I enjoyed it more playing a little bit deeper and getting on the ball, controlling the game. And then obviously, I started playing holding midfield for England and I loved it."
Despite his progress as a deep-lying midfielder, Wilshere explained that Wenger did not want him to play there.
He added: "Things went really well when I was playing there and I felt like I was learning that role and then I came back and had a conversation with Arsene and he was like, 'No, I don’t see you playing there.'
"We didn’t really play that formation where there was that one holding midfielder anyway but I wanted to play in the two but he kept playing me in the No.10 role which I enjoyed…listen, I was playing No.10 with the No.10 on my back so I was living the dream but I just felt I could give a little bit more when I was deeper."
Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip.
