TO HELL AND JACK
Wenger tips Wilshere to rediscover his best form after nightmare spell
ARSENE WENGER reckons Jack Wilshere is on his way back to his best after his nightmare lay-off.
Wenger will ring the changes at the start of the Europa League campaign against Cologne, with Wilshere, 25, back in the squad.
He is likely to get his first appearance at the Emirates in 19 months from the bench.
Seven big names – Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny, Alexandre Lacazette, Danny Welbeck, Granit Xhaka, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey – will be rested as Gunners boss Wenger prioritises Sunday’s trip to Chelsea.
But it does give Wilshere a chance to prove his fitness after suffering a broken leg while at Bournemouth last season.
Alexis Sanchez will start to boost his match fitness, while Olivier Giroud leads the attack, one short of his 100th goal for Arsenal.
Wilshere could have left in the summer and he may be a target for new Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson in the January window.
But Wenger thinks he can overcome his catalogue of injuries.
Wilshere’s career high-point is still probably his brilliant display against Barcelona in the Champions League in 2011 and Wenger claims he can see signs of his best form in training.
Wenger said: “You have certainly seen the video of him when we played against Barcelona (below) – his game is about that. He needs a little burst to get away from people because he can move the game forward and, if you can move the game forward, you need your legs to get you out of pressure and that will come back – it is coming back in training.
“He is very hungry and sharp. He is not completely at his best, but he is getting there. He enjoys being back and competing for his place and what I see in training is positive.”
The midfielder, whose last appearance for Arsenal came as a substitute at Watford in August 2016, got sent off in an Under-23s game against Manchester City when he lost his temper and retaliated after being the victim of an X-rated tackle.
Wenger said: “I didn’t talk to him at all after that because I was not at the game and I could understand his reaction.
“He had been out so many times after suffering bad tackles and had just come back from a fracture. Some just come back like nothing happened to them, some are traumatised for their whole life. It is like you have a car accident – some don’t want to drive any more and some take the car and go on again.
“It is very different and depends on people’s personality.”
Wenger admits Sanchez is not fully fit, but is involved to get him sharp for the trip to Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Giroud insists Arsenal should be strong enough to win the Europa League – even though they are resting players.
He said: “We’ve got at least two good teams and have a lot of competition for places.
“It’s very nice for everyone because we need to be focused and always improve ourselves.
“So, trust me, we’ve got a very good team on paper tomorrow.”