Wilshere: Arsenal must do a Barca and win trophy

Jack Wilshere reckons Arsenal must win a trophy this season to prove they are the next best thing to Champions League winners Barcelona. Gunners midfielder reckons it is “unthinkable” that Arsene Wenger’s outfit don’t finish in the Premier League top four despite a torrid start to the campaign.

Injured Wilshere, 19, watched from the sidelines as we were hammered 8-2 at Manchester United, a defeat that prompted Wenger to bring in four new faces on deadline day.

And Wilshere says Arsenal play the game with the same flair as Barcelona but is aware that the club must find a winning mentality. Tonight he told Ian Wright on Absolute Radio: “Barcelona are the best and they keep proving that. I think Arsenal can match them the way we play but we need to put words into practice and win some trophies. Top four? Yeah we have to, it’s unthinkable not to so that is what he have got to do.”

Wilshere has applauded the arrival of players such as Mikel Arteta from Everton and Yossi Benayoun from Chelsea and sasy they will add experience to the young Gunners squad.

He added: “Arteta is a great player. I played against him at Bolton on loan and he was the best player on the pitch and last season at the Emirates he was one of the best players, so he is a good addition to the squad. “Arteta is 29 and Benayoun is a bit younger and we needed older players. When Cesc Fabregas was coming through he had Patrick Vieira and the older players but hopefully now we can push on.”

Wilshere is winning his battle to retain his fitness and as revealed Wenger refuses to rush him back despite a sorry start to the season for the north London club. “I am feeling good. I’ve had a slight injury but over all I am feeling good. The medical staff are not pushing me. I spoke to the manager and he said, ‘take your time and come back when you’re ready’. There is no point coming back and then having six weeks off again. It’s been. massively frustrating but it is a bit of a set back. But I am still feeling good about the season and we’ve got to push on as soon as possible.”

CARL ELDRIDGE – Follow me on Twitter @eldomedia