Jack Wilshere’s Arsenal return is great news for Arsène Wenger

Wilshere return great news for Gunners

News that Jack Wilshere is returning to action will be a big boost to an Arsenal side looking to build on a promising start to the season.

The 20-year-old has been sidelined with a stress fracture to his ankle since pre-season last year, and underwent surgery around a year ago before suffering a knee injury during his rehabilitation.

His return has been eagerly-anticipated for some time now, with the youngster one of the club’s biggest prospects.

And with Arsenal just one of four unbeaten sides in the Premier League – the others being Chelsea, Manchester City and Sunderland – Wilshere will be important to them continuing their run.

The midfielder, with five England caps to his name, will return on Monday evening against West Bromwich Albion in the Under-21 Premier League as he attempts to gain match fitness.

Arsène Wenger has stated he expects Wilshere to be available for first-team selection in about ten days – the big worry is that if he is rushed into the fold too soon then his progress might suffer a set-back.

But the fact he is close to fitness is a huge positive for Arsenal as they seek to end their silverware drought which goes back to 2005.

Nothing impressive about same old Arsenal

Despite the result, Wednesday night’s 6-1 Capital One Cup victory over Coventry City demonstrated exactly why Arsenal have not won silverware for seven years.

Granted, it was a thumping victory, but it was against League One opposition who have recently disposed of a manager – anything less would have been quite frankly a bit of a disappointment.

It was not surprising to see Arsenal passing the ball around the field in the manner they usually do, but against a lower league team there was one big flaw in their game plan exposed.

Arsenal, for all their pretty football, do not have a grafter in the centre of the park – someone like Steven Gerrard who can change the way the team plays to get the win.

In the first half, the Sky Blues defended like any League One team would – with tough tackling and trying to stop Arsenal getting into a rhythm. When they stopped doing that in the second period the Gunners walked away with it.

But until that point, aside from Giroud’s well taken goal, Arsenal were struggling.

Even as the Gunners battled to try and score a second before the break Wenger stood on the touch line arms folded. He did not seem to be asking his players to resort to a plan B for a very simple reason – they do not have one.

Once again the League Cup presents Arsenal with their best chance of ending their trophy hoodoo. If they play a Coventry every week, they might just about win it.

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Read more on: Arsenal, Arsène Wenger, coventry city, Jack Wilshere, Olivier Giroud.