Wilshere Admits He Is Not Fully Fit Yet
Jack Wilshere has admitted that even though he made his Arsenal comeback in the 1-0 win over QPR over the weekend, he is nowhere near his optimum fitness level.
The 20-year-old midfielder started and played 70 minutes of football for the Gunners on Saturday and looked impressive despite it being his first league game in 17 months. While his fitness level seemed fine to the fans, the player himself says he was struggling after an hour of football and that achieving his peak would take some time.
Talking to the press on Monday, Wilshere said: “After 60 minutes, I could feel my legs going even then. I’m still a long way from full fitness and everyone has to understand that. They do here at Arsenal. It’s a long journey and it’s going to take time. When you come back, there’s an expectation but I can deal with it. That’s part and parcel of football and there’s older players here who can keep my feet on the ground and help me.
“Just for now, I’m happy to be back. The feeling – I was just running round smiling – that feeling was amazing. I think the boss saw that I was struggling a bit and took me off. ‘We’ve got a game on Tuesday and if I’m selected then I’m ready to play.”
Arteta Acknowledges Wenger’s Influence in Win over QPR
Arsenal’s goal-scoring hero Mikel Arteta has hailed the impact of coach Arsene Wenger in ending the club’s two-match losing run with a 1-0 win over QPR on Saturday.
It was a tight affair and could have gone either way but Arteta, who scored the only goal of the match in the 84th minute, believes that Wenger’s positive way of thinking tipped the scales in their favour.
In an interview with Arsenal.com, the Spaniard said: “The boss was brilliant because he was very positive about the way we have to play and the belief we have to have. It is good that in the bad moments he keeps believing in us and gives us confidence, so we kept playing as we always do and got rewarded. We knew we would have to play really well to beat QPR, and we created the chances but left it until the last few minutes [to score]!”
Wenger was equally generous in his evaluation of the former Everton playmaker, as he said: “Since the beginning of the season Mikel has been absolutely outstanding. He does a fantastic job, he is highly focused and I am very happy for him that he gets the rewards.”
Bendtner Could Be Back At Arsenal
When Juventus took Nicklas Bendtner on loan in the summer, many Arsenal fans were mightily relieved and thought that they had seen the last of him at Emirates Stadium. But The Mirror claim that the Danish forward has fallen out of favour with the Old Lady management due to lack of playing time and so a return back to North London looks like a real possibility.
The newspaper have quoted Bendtner’s agent Tom Brooks as saying: “Why isn’t he playing? In all honesty, you’d have to ask Antonio Conte – he is too strong a player to stay on the bench, it’s not good for him or Juventus to keep him there. If it continues like this, we will consider our options. We’ll talk about it over the next few weeks.”
Wenger against Wilshere’s England Return
Arsene Wenger has told England coach Roy Hodgson not to pick fit-again Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere in his squad for next month’s friendly against Sweden.
The 20-year-old Gunner recently returned to first-team football following 17 months on the sidelines and talks about his selection in the Three Lions squad are already taking place in the press. But Wenger is against the idea and he believes that it is still too early for Wilshere to be considered for international duty.
In an interview with Sky Sports, the Arsenal boss said: “It is a friendly. Jack should skip that. What is important now is that he gets back to full fitness for this team. Once he is back he will play for England again, but if it is a friendly. I will have a little word of course. Anyway, Roy will call me about him. I am an understanding manager. If it is a friendly, a full game would be too much at the moment. I will speak about it with Roy, but what is important now is that he gets back to his level.”
Podolski Likes Wenger’s ‘Relaxed’ Style
Lukas Podolski has described Arsene Wenger as a ‘very relaxed’ manager and believes that the Arsenal boss is the perfect man to help him elevate his play to the next level.
Unlike several of his managerial counterparts, Wenger has a very calm and patient way of dealing with his players, and Podolski says that it is just the way he likes to be treated.
The 27-year-old forward told The Daily Star: “The manager is very relaxed. He is not a coach to scream too much or go crazy at you. He is relaxed. I think he will make me a better player over the next couple of years.”
Curbishley Doubts Arsenal’s Top Four Credentials
Former Charlton manager Alan Curbishley feels that Arsenal would find it tough to finish in the top four in the league this season due to increased level of competition.
Arsene Wenger recently revealed that he prioritises Champions League qualification over domestic cup runs, and while Arsenal have never missed out on that target under the Frenchman’s reign, Curbishley believes that it could happen this season since their direct rivals for the final CL spot are looking extremely strong too.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Curbishley said: “I think it’ll be tough this season. They managed to get in there last year with a great run near the end of the season. But they are being threatened at the moment. Arsene Wenger said in the club statement last week that the priority is Premier League, Champions League and then the next priority is qualifying for the Champions League, which is what they have done for so many years.
“If you’re a Champions League team you can attract certain types of players. If you’re out of that Champions League spot it can be very difficult. It’s imperative that they finish in the top four, but I think it’s going to be a bit of a job on their hands.”
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