Once upon a time, Jack Wilshere was considered the future of English football.

Even before he broke into the Arsenal team he was mooted as a star of the future, and he only emphasised that point with a number of impressive displays after making his debut as a 16-year-old.

But, almost 10 years on from his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt, it can be argued that Wilshere has not hit the heights that were once expected of him.

And, after another sub-standard display in the Europa League against Ostersunds last Thursday, Roy Keane had some strong words for the 26-year-old.

After tearing into Arsenal after their loss, the former Manchester United player claimed Wilshere was "the most overrated player on the planet" and implied that the team struggled because he was captain.

RAY PARLOUR'S OPINION ON WILSHERE

So, why hasn't Wilshere fulfilled his potential?

Daily Telegraph journalist Henry Winter claimed earlier this week that Arsene Wenger was the main reason why Wilshere was being held back, but Parlour has rejected that claim.

Instead, the 44-year-old claimed that it is the quality of Arsenal's teammates that are letting him down, and points to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's early success at Liverpool to justify his claims.

Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, Parlour claimed: "The big question is, is Jack playing around players who are on his level at Arsenal?

“I’m not knocking Granit Xhaka or people like that, but now Oxlade-Chamberlain is playing in that Liverpool team he’s probably thinking, ‘I’m playing with top class players here’.

“I know you could say Mesut Ozil might be in the bracket, but Sanchez has obviously left now and with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, we’ll have to wait and see if he’s good enough to play week-in week-out and he puts the performances in.

“I just think questions will be asked if Oxlade-Chamberlain improves that much and maybe pushes himself into the England squad under Jurgen Klopp.

“I totally understand that now.

“He wasn’t used enough at Arsenal. He always wanted to play in central midfield and he didn’t get that opportunity, he played on the right instead.

“You’ve got to do your job for the team sometimes and play in different positions, but now he’s got that opportunity at Liverpool to do that.”

It must be said, Parlour could well have a point.

After a slow start at his new club, Oxlade-Chamberlain has begun to find his feet at Anfield and has put in a number of impressive performances in recent times. It could be easily be argued his good form is down to playing with better players.

Perhaps Wilshere needs the same to truly fulfil his potential.