STARS HAVE LET WENGER DOWN, ADMITS JACK WILSHERE

Jack Wilshere admits Arsenal’s stars hadn’t done enough to ease the pressure on Arsene Wenger before they took the strain off their beleaguered boss by beating AC Milan.

Wenger’s side ended a wretched run of four successive defeats as they won 2-0 at Milan in the Europa League last 16 first leg on Thursday.

Arsenal are languishing 13 points adrift of the Premier League’s top four and a dismal 3-0 defeat against Manchester City in the League Cup final exposed numerous flaws in Wenger’s squad.

Winning the Europa League is likely to be Arsenal’s only route into next season’s Champions League, a target which seems an essential requirement to persuade Arsenal’s hierarchy to retain Wenger.

And ahead of Watford’s visit to the Emirates Stadium in the on Sunday,GunnersmidfielderWilshere conceded he and his teammates had been performing well below their best for weeks.

“We know we haven’t been good enough. We are aware of it,” he said.

After almost 22 years in charge, Wenger has presided over a major drop in standards in the last few years and Gunners fans have been increasingly vocal in their calls for his dismissal.

But, although Milan are in a rut themselves, Arsenal’s desperation for a morale-boosting victory was so strong that Wilshere believes they can use take the momentum from the San Siro to ensure Wenger silences the critics. “If anyone tells you you haven’t got to prove anything to anyone, they are wrong,” he said.

“You are always trying to prove yourself to people and play well in the next game.

“We have got to use this win as a target. We have got to reach these levels every week. We have got another game and then next week, the job in this competition is not done yet...this is AC Milan.

“They can come, want to play and want to win the game. We have to be ready,” Wilshere added.

LONDON: