Jack Wilshere Keen to Stay at Arsenal after Return to First-Team Fold

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere. (Getty Images)
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere. (Getty Images)
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Jack Wilshere Keen to Stay at Arsenal after Return to First-Team Fold

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere. (Getty Images)
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere. (Getty Images)

Jack Wilshere looks like a player determined to grasp every moment of football he is offered this season, and his mini renaissance since returning to fitness and the fold at Arsenal has made him want to commit to the club for the long term. Wilshere’s contract expires at the end of this season and given his injury history he is doing everything in his power to ensure he prolongs a connection that dates back to boyhood.

“Do I see myself staying? Of course I do,” he said. “I have always been at Arsenal, I love this club. They have been good to me over the years, I have a great relationship with the boss. He has played me since I was 17. He has put his trust in me since then. We have a great understanding and of course I want to stay.”

Past experience ought to have taught Wilshere to be cautious about what the future holds but his desire to play and enjoy football is so strong he walked off the pitch after an impressive 90 minutes against Bate Borisov in the Europa League on Thursday and could not resist saying: “I definitely feel I’m back.”

Wilshere’s positive vibes outweigh any wariness about how much football and how many performances are needed to convince others that this latest comeback has staying power. There were moments – imaginative touches and brilliant passes – that were classy reminders of his capabilities. Of that Arsène Wenger has no doubt. The midfielder’s capacity to produce his best over a season is less clear.

“You are always playing for your future but at the moment I am happy to be back, to feel part of the squad. It has been a while,” added Wilshere. “Last year I was at Bournemouth, year before I was injured. It has been a while since I felt a proper Arsenal player but I am back, in training, back in the squad, playing these types of games. I am doing everything I can to stay fit, training well, we will see. I am not looking too far ahead. We have another game Sunday, more League Cup and Europa League, so I am happy.”

He acknowledged that football critics have short memories and that being written off comes with the territory. “That is part and parcel of football. Football is a game where people forget. Everyone says ‘you are never fit’ but last season I was fit for the whole season. It was only in April that I got an impact injury. That was unfortunate timing but throughout my rehab it went well.

“People say it’s a long road but it was four months and I have had longer than that before. I felt good coming back to Arsenal and into training and the boss has been good. He has been speaking to me, been patient and I feel good and enjoy working with these top players again.”

Wilshere confessed that the night before the game in Borisov he was in the hotel and could not remember when he had last played a European away game for Arsenal. In fact, the answer was at Anderlecht in the Champions League in October 2014. Fellow team-mates that day were Mikel Arteta, Lukas Podolski, Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini. It must feel like an age ago.

Wilshere has not yet worked his way into contention to start in the Premier League but if he keeps up his current progression that should not be too far away. Arsenal do not possess too many midfielders blessed with the vision he uses so instinctively.

“As a player you want to be in every game, especially when you have been injured, but at the same time I understand they have been winning and playing well,” he said. “Am I 100 percent back? Maybe not. I felt good in the first half and start of the second and then fitness-wise it started to go a bit towards the end. But that is normal. It will come and I am patient at the moment and we will see where I am in three or four weeks.”

Wilshere enjoyed the challenge of playing in a tweaked position in Belarus, pushed further forward as part of the attacking trio alongside Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud.

“I was playing a different position, coming off the line to link with Theo and Olivier and especially in the first half it worked really well. I wasn’t playing as an out and out 10, I was on the wing and the boss told me to come into the pocket and pick it up.”

The 25-year-old was instrumental in helping Arsenal beat Borisov 4-2 and hopes that he can go from strength to strength. There is a lot to pin hopes on – a new contract and the prospect of a World Cup at the end of the season – but for now he is taking baby steps. He has stopped even looking out for the England squad.

“I am getting back to full fitness and of course I want to be part of that. I have only played two 90s in four or five months. When I am fit and playing in the Premier League, we will see.”

The Guardian Sport



Howe Confident Isak Will Stay at Newcastle Despite Transfer Talk

Alexander Isak. (dpa)
Alexander Isak. (dpa)
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Howe Confident Isak Will Stay at Newcastle Despite Transfer Talk

Alexander Isak. (dpa)
Alexander Isak. (dpa)

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe insisted Saturday that Alexander Isak is still a Newcastle player despite speculation around a move to Premier League champions Liverpool.

Isak has not travelled with Newcastle for their pre-season tour of Asia, apparently because of a minor thigh injury, but Howe said the 25-year-old Swedish striker was a key part of his plans.

"Of course, there are always going to be things going on behind the scenes," Howe told reporters in Singapore, where Newcastle play Arsenal on Sunday.

"He is aware he's in the news every day, which I'm sure is not easy for anyone in that situation.

"Conversations between Alex and the club or with me will stay private for obvious reasons. We do share a good relationship," Howe added.

Isak, who scored 23 Premier League goals last season, has been "magnificent for us for as long as he has been with us," said Howe. "And he is very comfortable in the dressing room."

Isak did not travel with the Magpies after the thigh injury kept him out of Newcastle's friendly defeat to Celtic last week.

"He mentioned before the Celtic game that it would be very minimal and nothing too serious," said Howe.

"But he left training very early and didn't feel right. So, he's now back in Newcastle getting that injury assessed."

Howe remained confident that Isak will be wearing black and white when the new season kicks off next month.

"I said after the game against Celtic that I was confident he would stay. I don't see anything that is going to change that opinion of mine at the moment.

"It's football," he added. "And who knows what the future may bring."

The Magpies ended their 70-year trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup and finished in fifth place in the Premier League last season to secure a return to the Champions League.

"I think once you've experienced that feeling of winning, you want it again. So, we want to do it again as soon as possible, in all the competitions we are in," said Howe.

"We set the bar very high, and there's a lot of ambition within the team."