Arsène Wenger has moved to defend Jack Wilshere after the Arsenal midfielder was photographed at the scene of a late-night altercation at the weekend, saying that the incident had been “taken out of proportion a little bit”.
The Arsenal manager confirmed he had spoken to Wilshere, who was reportedly asked to leave the Cafe de Paris nightclub in central London at 2am on Sunday and was then caught up in a dispute between two groups of men.
Wilshere was spoken to by police in the street and there has been a sense of exasperation at Arsenal, given Wilshere’s previous for getting into scrapes.
Wenger, though, was publicly supportive of the player who will make his long-awaited comeback from a fractured fibula in the club’s under-21 game against Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium on Friday night. Wilshere has not played all season because of the injury, and several related set-backs.
Wenger made the point that only Wilshere’s fitness problems could derail his career, rather than any lifestyle issues, and also sought to highlight the extreme provocation that leading footballers can feel on the occasions that they venture out.
“I’ve spoken to Jack,” Wenger said. “It looks to be taken out of proportion a little bit. These are matters that we like to keep internal. This is a completely private matter. I don’t know really what happened.
“You know, as well, that he can be provoked. It’s not easy when you’re well-known today to go out anywhere, without creating some provocations. I’m a bit cautious. Even if you’re well-known, you have the right sometimes to go out. There was no training session the next day. He had a day off … You can accept that sometimes the players go out when they are free the next day, over the weekend.”
Wenger was asked whether there was the danger that Wilshere might not fulfil his potential. “At the moment I believe he’s [got] a real football brain,” Wenger replied. “He loves football. He’s very serious, very dedicated. I invite you to come in every day to watch him work, and you will understand that he’s very, very dedicated.
“The only thing that could stop him from having the career he can make is injuries. He has the history of injuries. It’s been bad recently. But I hope he can get rid of that and make the career he deserves.”
Wilshere will be joined by Tomas Rosicky in Friday’s under-21 match; Rosicky has been a long-term absentee with a thigh problem. Wenger also reported that Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini would be in contention, after muscular injuries, for Saturday’s visit to West Ham United.
“Overall, what is positive is that Jack works very, very hard,” Wenger said. “The news looks quite good. I think he will have a good test tomorrow night. But we have to see. I am a bit cautious because of his history.
“Let’s not rush it too much and let’s see how he responds to the next game. He’ll have a big part in the game tomorrow night and hopefully will come through well.”
Wenger added that Wilshere would have to play at least one more game for the under-21s before he could be in consideration for the first-team.