Jack Wilshere again won plaudits for the quality of his performance for Arsenal, this time against Chelsea in the entertaining 2-2 draw at the Emirates on Wednesday evening.

His Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed his display as the Gunners grabbed a point after a late Hector Bellerin strike pulled the home side level after Marcos Alonso thought he had grabbed the winner for the West Londoners minutes earlier.

However it was Wilshere’s performance which again grabbed the eye, capped off by a sublime left-footed strike on 63 minutes which put the Gunners 1-0 ahead.

Unfortunately for Arsenal fans his first goal since May 2015 against West Brom was swiftly cancelled out by a disputed penalty award after Eden Hazard went down easily despite there appearing to be minimal contact with Hector Bellerin.

Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot as Hazard soon picked himself up to slot home the spot-kick.

However, while Wenger slammed the award as ‘farcical’ he found time to praise the Hitchin-reared midfielder who celebrated his 26th birthday on New Year’s Day.

Speaking after the game Wenger said: “It was a great football game. Jack Wilshere is at a level where not many people expected him to be.

“I would say everybody had given up on him.

“He deserves great credit.”

The point saw Arsenal remain in sixth place 21 points behind champions-elect Manchester City.