Jim van
Wijk, The
Independent - 22 November 2013
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger knows he will have to
tread carefully with Jack Wilshere if the England midfielder is to last the
distance for club and country this season.
The 21-year-old featured heavily in each of
England's internationals at Wembley this week and last, where Roy Hodgson's men
suffered back-to-back defeats.
Wenger played down any talk of a row with the
Football Association of how Wilshere was deployed by Hodgson. However, the
Gunners boss remains acutely aware of the need to avoid burn-out with Wilshere,
who was ruled out of contention for both Euro 2012 and the London Olympics
later the same summer because of injury.
"We play 60 games per year and Jack will
certainly have to be managed - unless his pains go completely, then he will be
used when needed," said Wenger, who will have forward Theo Walcott
available again following a two-month injury absence when Barclays Premier
League action resumes with the visit of Southampton on Saturday.
"If there is an alert on his ankles, we will
of course take advice from the medical department and use him when he can
really be used."
Wenger continued: "I have been told by the
medical team that there is no concern in the long term. He is just still
recovering from his inflammation."
There had been reports Arsenal were at loggerheads
with the FA over Hodgson's decision to use Wilshere, who came off the bench
against Germany, twice over the international break.
Wenger, though, said: "There is no problem
between the FA and Arsenal Football Club. I don't know where that idea comes
from because he was supposed to play.
"He was available for England, they used him
like they wanted and if he had played the two games I would have been perfectly
happy.
"Two full games - there was no restriction
there at all."
Wenger also confirmed England midfielder Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who also harbours hopes to go to the World Cup, remains on
course to return from his knee injury at the start of 2014.
"I believe he is still at least one month away
from competition but he has had no real setback," said Wenger.
"So the new year is a reasonable target."
Defender Per Mertesacker scored the winning goal to
beat England 1-0 at Wembley on Tuesday.
Wenger confirmed preliminary talks over a new deal
for the popular 6ft 6in centre-back had begun.
"We are in the process of talking, yes,"
he said.
"He has one and a half years to go, so that is
a long time."
Arsenal will be without suspended midfielder
Mathieu Flamini against the Saints, who have surprised with their rise up the
table this season.
Mauricio Pochettino feels his men could stay the
course and gatecrash the top four come May.
Wenger said: "You cannot rule anybody out. If
they can keep the defensive record they have then they can be very ambitious.
"All the teams want to press and to win the
ball back quickly - there's nothing special in there, but (Southampton) do it
well and that is why they are efficient defensively."
PA
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