Jack Wilshere: Arsenal midfielder 'on way back to his best' says Arsene Wenger
Last updated on .From the section Football
Jack Wilshere was "outstanding" as Arsenal beat Bate Borisov 4-2 in the Europa League, says boss Arsene Wenger.
The 25-year-old midfielder, who spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, was one of nine players brought in for the game and set up Theo Walcott's opener.
Injuries have hindered Wilshere's career and he is out of contract next summer.
"He fights until the end. He's on his way back to his best and showed that," said Wenger.
Wilshere - who is not in the current England squad - has only managed 80 Premier League starts for Arsenal because of a variety of injuries since his debut nine years ago.
"He's at an age where a player normally gets to the best of his career. He's on the way up. He's only been stopped by a series of injuries," Wenger continued.
"Hopefully, I just pray, he is not hampered by any more problems and that will see him getting stronger and stronger. He's shown again that he's not lost his football."
Walcott scored twice in Belarus, Rob Holding netted his first Gunners goal and Olivier Giroud scored his 100th goal for the club with a second-half penalty.
"I just congratulated Giroud for his remarkable achievement," said Wenger.
"He is in good company, when you look at the number of goals he's scored."
Walcott told BT Sport: "There was a chance for me to take the penalty but Olivier was on 99 goals.
"It's a great moment in his career to get 100 goals for Arsenal, I have achieved that and I know the feeling and it is brilliant. That is why he took the penalty. I can't be too selfish."
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Just imagine having a player of Wilshere’s ability pulling the strings in midfield instead of that lumbering ox Jordan Henderson.
We might even get through the group stage.
Do you ever watch games?
Anybody who has watched Arsenal over the last few years would know just how much we have missed Cazorla since he got injured. When fit, as a creative midfielder he is as good as anybody in the premier league.
Biggest issue is always going to be around recapturing form and maintaining fitness. BATE is never going to be the team that you can measure his progress against, but I would like to see him being given a shot in the prem soon.
People knock his injury record which is fair enough, but it's not muscular as it always seems to be broken bones, not much you can do about that.
Any people may not like his personality, but you can't question his talent. If you do then you don't have a football brain.
Little question that injuries have hampered his career and he has made some woeful errors of judgement.
However, fully fit and on form, Wilshere is a exciting and talented footballer, end of.
Wilsheres attitude is awful, though.
He could have been the English equivalent of David Silva ... but whilst Silva is a lovely down to earth modest bloke, lets face it the opposite of Jack.
And then because he gets in arguments on the pitch, he then makes stupid tackles and injures himself...he is his own worst enemy!!!