Arsène Wenger is backing Jack Wilshere to have a major impact in the season ahead. “It could be his year,” said the Arsenal manager, who confirmed that the England midfielder is no longer feeling any pain in his troublesome ankles.
“He has the experience and for him the problem until now was medical. I think he’s over it now,” Wenger said. “It’s the first time I’ve seen him not miss a session since the start of the preparations.
“It’s an important year for Jack. Very important. He was until now a doubt a little bit through injuries. At the top level you need to be consistent with your presence. You can play six, seven, eight games and rest one or two, but you have to play six, seven on the trot. I think he will be capable of doing it. He prepares well. He has no ankle problem any more.”
Wenger is hopeful that Wilshere can emulate Aaron Ramsey, who last season had his breakthrough campaign after long-term injury. “I wish, I wish. Because if the two work together we have a very strong midfield,” the Frenchman added.
Wenger is hopeful for a sharp start from those who have prepared well in pre-season, especially as he knows that his three Germany internationals, who return to training on Monday, may be experiencing a dose of World Cup comedown.
“It’s difficult to get up there straight away,” Wenger conceded. “To come and say: ‘OK for the next game we will fight for our lives,’ it’s nearly impossible.” He recalled how Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit struggled in the aftermath of France’s World Cup triumph in 1998. “It was very difficult. They were kings of the world in France and three weeks later they come back and you say: ‘Come on, my friend, you have to fight.’ They think – they don’t say it but they think – ‘leave me alone a little bit now’. It’s natural.
“They should have played the World Cup earlier. In Fifa rules you have to give four weeks holiday to the players and they organise the final of the World Cup for 13 July. The distance between the final of the World Cup and the start of the championship is too small.”
One player who appears to be champing at the bit to start is Alexis Sánchez. Kieran Gibbs feels he is ready to propel Arsenal to greater heights. “He is like an animal in training on the pitch,” said Gibbs. “That is what we need, we can’t just sign a superstar and say: ‘OK we are going to win everything.’ The players have come in with a great attitude which is just what we need. He is just everywhere. He doesn’t stop running. You always worry about new players adapting to the game but I don’t see him struggling. He’s a tough character.”
