Arter 'didn't want Wilshere at Bournemouth'

Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter admits he didn't want Jack Wilshere to sign for the club on transfer deadline day.

Arter says he feared for his place when the England midfielder joined Bournemouth on a season-long loan from Arsenal in August.

"It's not that I thought, 'I am in a bit of trouble here', because I will always back myself, but if someone had said: 'Do you want Jack Wilshere to come here?', hand on heart, I would have said no," the Republic of Ireland international told the Daily Mail.

The 27-year-old now accepts he was being selfish, and says the signing of Wilshere has lifted the whole squad.

Wilshere started only 80 Premier League games for Arsenal in eight years after a series of injuries, but seems to have regained his fitness at Bournemouth with 17 appearances already this season.

"For me, he was — and is — one of the top English midfielders and I've loved watching him play," Arter continued.

"I realised that for me to become a better player, the manager has always signed competition — and I've made sure I am playing.

"This is my opportunity to become even better. To try and be better than Jack. When he signed, he lifted the whole place."

The 27-year-old, who has two years left on his current contract with Bournemouth, says he is happy at the Vitality Stadium but wants "to keep improving" and play in the Champions League or the Europa League in future.

"If Eddie Howe reads me saying, 'I am here and I am happy with my lot', he wouldn't be happy," he continued.

"He wants me to keep improving, I want to keep improving. I hope Bournemouth can challenge for European football and I can continue to progress with them."

Photo: ©Getty Images/Ben Hoskins

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