Jack Wilshere has recently returned to the Arsenal first team after being sidelined for 17 months with several injuries.
The Arsenal midfielder originally suffered an ankle injury in the summer of 2011, but suffered several setbacks which kept him out of action for the whole season. Nearing the end of the campaign, he had to undergo knee surgery, but the young Englishman is finally back in action and is back in the starting eleven for Arsenal.
Here is what Jack had to say about coming back after 17 months out:
“It is difficult [to be out for so long] for any player and especially for me — I was 19 and just breaking into the footballing world and coming into the team. I’d had a good season and was looking to push on next season.
“To have a setback like that was heartbreaking but now I’m back. I am still doing my maintenance work in the gym and am keeping fit. Hopefully now I can keep fit and push on. It [the original ankle injury] was serious, of course. It kept me out for so long but it wasn’t the result of a bad tackle or anything where it was career threatening. It was just something that happened over time.
“I knew it would take time to heal and then I suffered a few setbacks. Obviously you then question yourself and say, ‘Am I going to come back to the level that I was at before?’ Hopefully, now I can get back to training well. Every day I need to work hard and get back up to the level I was at.
Wilshere featured in Arsenal’s draw with Schalke last night and today, he said the following:
“Last night, I felt better than I did over the weekend and the weekend before that, so I am feeling better after each game.
“It’s a long season, so I need to take it easy a bit but I am looking forward.”
Arsenal left Germany with a point last night thanks to goals from Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud. As for Walcott, he is currently in the headlines as he is still yet to extend his contract at Arsenal and fans are starting to worry they may end up losing him.
Jack Wilshere has made it clear how he feels about Walcott by saying he wants him to stay at the club, as he is ‘good to be around’.
“Theo has been great,” he said. “His future is down to him and the boss to sort out. I hope he does sign. He has been great for us. He’s an English lad and great to have around.”
