‘EX-GUNNER CAN BE OUR PIRLO’

MANUEL PELLEGRINI says Jack Wilshere can be West Ham’s Andrea Pirlo.

The Hammers boss thinks the midfielder just needs to believe he is over the injuries that blighted his career. Pellegrini said: “He needs just to recover his trust in what he can do. We must give him trust, let him play... and he will do it.”

Against Bournemouth, Wilshere, 26, operated deep in a 4-4-2 alongside Mark Noble, who is out for the Arsenal match with a back injury. Questions were raised about Wilshere’s ability to underpin a midfield with Irons club captain Noble, 31.

And Pellegrini said: “If you need fast players, they cannot do it.

“But if you need good, technical players, who don’t lose any balls, they can play together.

“Four or five years ago, Juventus played with one holding midfielder, Pirlo.

“Pirlo (left) is the same as Jack and has the same characteristics as Jack.”