Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that he does not see a serious concern with midfielder Jack Wilshere after the star was left out of the starting line-up against Fulham. Arsenal stumbled to a 1-0 win over Martin Jol’s Fulham, while it helped them get closer to the top four. There are only a handful of matches remaining in the Premier league and the club have been on a good run of form. Even though Fulham were playing with only 10 men for most of the match, they threatened to take the lead on several occasions.

Arsenal had to rely on a rare set piece goal from defender Mertesacker in order to win the match. Wilshere was recently rushed back from a six-week spell on the sidelines in order to help Arsenal get a good result against Everton, but they could only get a 0-0 draw against David Moyes’ men. Wilshere was absent for the match against Fulham, and Wenger has confirmed that he had dropped the player after he felt a slight pain in his ankle. However, he has stressed that this action was just a precaution and he expected the midfielder to get back into action sooner rather than later.

“He was in a bit of pain after the Everton game and I just felt to give him three games in six days would be too much. Now he has a break until next Sunday, so he will be available (against United). There is no basic ankle problem. I just do not want to go into a vicious circle again when I play him, I play him, I play him and then suddenly (he has a problem). I think coming back after six weeks out, two games in a week was enough,” said Wenger, whose team next face Manchester United in the league.

Last season, Chelsea became the first club from London to win the Champions League after managing to lift the competition against all the odds. Arsenal have been the only other team to have come extremely close when they reached the final of this competition in 2006. The Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has said that there is no reason why Arsenal cannot take inspiration from the success Chelsea had last season and defy all the odds to win this tournament for the first time in their history. Arsenal have been left with only the Champions league as the trophy that they can win this season.

The club has not managed to lift a single trophy in the last eight seasons, and the pressure on the manager Arsene Wenger was compounded after the shock defeat at the hands of Championship club Blackburn in the FA Cup during the weekend. Arsenal will be playing against the last season’s Champions League finalists Bayern Munich in the last 16 round of the competition. Once again Arsenal come into the match as the underdogs due to the strength in depth of the Germans. Despite being the underdogs, Wilshere is confident that Arsenal can do a Chelsea this season. Arsenal rested a number of high profile players for the match against Blackburn.

“Chelsea are an inspiration for everyone. They weren’t having a good season and, okay, they got a bit lucky in some games. But they showed great character and we need to do that. We need to come together as a team. We have good leaders here, a good team atmosphere. That will help us. We have a good bunch of lads in the dressing room. They’re winners as well, the likes of Lukas Podolski and Mikel Arteta. They want to win,” said Wilshere ahead of the match.

The Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has revealed that he wants to be the Steven Gerrard for the club. The 32-year-old Liverpool midfielder is regarded as the heartbeat of the Liverpool team, while he has been responsible for helping them get out of several troubles over the last decade. He is also regarded as one of the best in the world. The 20-year-old Jack Wilshere has revealed that he considers Gerrard to be his inspiration so much so that he wants to be the Gerrard for Arsenal. Arsenal have been missing a driving force in the midfield since the days of Patrick Vieira.

The former midfielder Cesc Fabregas came close to replacing him, but he has since departed for Barcelona. Even though Wilshere is not in the mould as Vieira, he has managed to dominate games recently. After scoring in the 1-0 win over Swansea in the third round replay of the FA Cup, Wilshere said that he wants to dominate games and score many goals like Gerrard does for Liverpool. The England international has also compared his goal against Swansea to the one scored by Gerrard in the 2006 FA Cup final. Gerrard almost single-handedly helped Liverpool the trophy back then. Wilshere regards Gerrard as someone he looks for inspiration.

“I remember Gerrard scoring a similar goal to mine in the final against West Ham and the one in the Champions League game against Olympiakos. He is a great player, I think I’m a bit different. His long passing is better than mine. He is a great role model. He’s been the heartbeat of Liverpool for years. He has also been the stand-out performer for England as well. He is a great role model for me. If I can get anywhere near as good as him and drive the team forward like he does, then I will be happy,” said Wilshere.

The Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is getting close to reaching his full fitness according to the manager Arsene Wenger, who had the delight of seeing the England international be at his best in the 2-0 win over West Brom during the weekend. The 20-year-old has suffered a number of injuries over the past few seasons, which have meant that he has missed the last 17 months on the injury table itself. Wilshere has said that he has been playing better in each match he has been part of in recent weeks, but has singled out the performance against West Brom as his most satisfying yet.

He may not have scored the two goals against West Brom, but Wilshere was involved in a number of good things for Arsenal. It was also one of their first victories after a long time, which helped them move closer to the top four. Following the departure of players like Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, the team has relied heavily upon Jack Wilshere. His absence coupled with the injury to Abou Diaby has said that he is extremely light in midfield. Wilshere is now hoping that his return to full fitness will spark Arsenal to life and they will be able to bring an end to the trophy drought this season.

“I have got better every game. [I’m] maybe 90 per cent. I’m not sure. Every game that goes by I feel better and better fitness-wise. When I get up to 100 per cent I will really show what I can do. It’s a new experience for, my first injury. I didn’t know what to expect. I think the first few games my adrenalin got me through which is why I was so up for it. Then you start to realise it is not as simple as that and things start catching up with you,” said Wilshere.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere faces another injury setback as his manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he will not be fit in time for the start of the new season.

The 20 year old missed the entirety of last year’s campaign with a series of chronic ankle and knee problems the first of which were sustained just over a year ago in a preseason warm up game against New York Red Bulls. Although desperate to return to Premier League action later this month for the kick off of the new season, Wenger has suggested October as a more realistic return date for the young midfielder.

The player, who when fit was a key member of the Arsenal midfield and a regular starter for the England team despite his young age, has received counsel from a number of sources.

Arsenal club legend Thierry Henry has expressed his sympathy and his admiration for the talented youngster’s ability.

“You want Wilshere around” said the 34 year old Frenchman. “He reminds me of when I first arrived when the old guard was there. He’s an Arsenal fan in the first place and you need this type of player around in the dressing room.”

“I just wish him all the best that he can come back quick and wear the shirt he loves so much.”

Further words of support have come from former West Ham striker Dean Ashton, who was similarly considered a great prospect for both the Premier League and the national side, but for whom a succession of serious injuries ultimately proved too much, forcing him to retire at the age of 26.

“It’s a lonely place when you are out for so long,” said the former Norwich and Crewe man.

“You try your best to stay involved, but it’s hard to watch your ­team-mates train and play. Coping with the setbacks is very difficult as well. You get so close to playing and it can be tough to find the enthusiasm to go through it all again.”

Arsenal will be desperate for this to be the last of Wilshere’s injury woes to prevent his career going the same way as the unfortunate Ashton’s.