Arsene Wenger was eager to temper expectations for Jack Wilshere after the Arsenal midfielder made a promising return to the Emirates in the Gunners’ 1-0 EFL Cup win over Doncaster Rovers.
Wilshere was starting his first match for Arsenal since May 2016 after a season on loan at Bournemouth that ended in his latest major injury, a leg break from which he has only recently recovered.
But with all the appropriate caveats that come with a display against a side struggling in the lower reaches of League One Wilshere looked a cut above most players on both sides, dictating play alongside Mohamed Elneny and providing a string of dangerous through balls for Alexis Sanchez to feast off.
Equally encouraging for Arsenal boss Wenger will be that Wilshere lasted the full 90 minutes, the first time he has managed that for the Gunners since September 23 2014.
However Wenger was eager to “put this game into perspective” and hinted it may be some time before the 25-year-old was competing with Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey for a starting role in his strongest side.
“I wanted to leave him on to give him 90 minutes and overall I think it was an ideal game for him to gain confidence and fitness,” Wenger said.
“We’ll see after that how he responds. Normally he’s alright after the game.
“I think you have to put this game into perspective as well, it does not exactly have the intensity of a Premier League game. But it’s important for him to build him up gradually.”
However it is likely that we will see much more of Wilshere before the next international break, with next week bringing the visit of West Brom and Brighton to the Emirates between a trip to Belarus to take on BATE Borisov in the Europa League.
Asked by Standard Sport when Wilshere could be ready to feature in the top flight Wenger admitted: “I don’t know. I’ll go game by game.
“We play next week three games – Monday, Thursday, Sunday – before the international break so I will have to make decisions to balance the team, to see who I play and where.
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“For me now he’s available to play, the decision I have to make is when to play him. But I think these kind of games he needs 90 minutes at that intensity and then he will soon be back. You see that in his movement, it is natural.
“After that, of course, everybody is looking at him because of course everybody expects him to come back to his best. I wish that as well.”
Wilshere, though, may not be in the mood to wait, with his contract due to expire in the coming summer.
Though Wilshere is determined to fight for his future at the Emirates Wenger has not been as forthcoming with his assurances. The Frenchman said last season – when the former England international was at Bournemouth – that he would offer Wilshere a new deal in January of this year. No talks have so far taken place.
Wenger hinted that Wilshere may be waiting a while longer before talks begin. “Tonight is not the best moment to speak about that [contract],” he said.
But if Wilshere can translate tonight’s performance to European games and the Premier League it won’t be long before Wenger looks to tie him down to a new deal.
