Fit-again Jack Wilshere faces fight for place, warns Wenger

Arsene Wenger welcomes Jack Wilshere back to his squad for Arsenal's game at Crystal Palace with a warning that the midfielder faces fierce competition to regain his place in the starting line-up after the side's recent upturn in form.

Wilshere suffered ligament damage to his left ankle in the home defeat to Manchester United in late November, checking months of encouraging displays and subsequently underwent surgery. His rehabilitation has extended to almost three months with the 23-year-old now ready to be included in the travelling party for the match at Selhurst Park ahead of schedule, though he will most likely have to make do with a place on the bench.

“Jack Wilshere is available again, a bit ahead of schedule but he has worked hard and had no big problems,” said Wenger, whose side have won seven of their past eight matches in all competitions to maintain their challenge for a top-four place and progress in the FA Cup.

“It’s good to have him back. This injury was on his left ankle, whereas he had had all those previous problems on the right one. So it has been a straightforward injury and it has healed. Even so, it’s difficult to come back straight away [into the side] always but it’s good he’s already back in contention.”

In Wilshere’s absence, Wenger has seen Mesut Özil return to the side and Santi Cazorla flourish in a central role. Yet, even with Aaron Ramsey absent for another 10 days and Mikel Arteta out until April, the Frenchman boasts options in the middle which may leave Wilshere biding his time on the sidelines, with the side having thrived over recent weeks.

The management are understandably keen to avoid disrupting that system, though Wilshere’s availability is a boost given the schedule ahead, with Arsenal returning to the Champions League against Monaco on Wednesday. “No matter who plays, you always worry about the balance of the team,” Wenger said. “If you look at Santi, for example, until now he has maybe been our most consistent player and, since he moved centrally, he has increased his influence as well.

“In Cazorla and Özil, Welbeck and Sanchez, it is a very offensive team and that means if you take one out and put Jack in it is exactly the same. Jack is an offensive player, someone who can turn the game forward and win the ball. And that’s his game. He can play wide so that means he can play on the right, on the left and in the middle, and with those positions there is fierce competition as well. But when you look at our scheduling over the next month I’m happy with that as he will get games. He is exactly the same player as he was before he was injured.”

Guardian Service