Wenger to pick Wilshere for Arsenal FA Cup replay
Wednesday 16 January 2013
Arsene Wenger will resist the temptation to rest midfielder Jack Wilshere for Arsenal’s FA Cup replay against Premier League rivals Swansea City on Wednesday, but the Guardian has reported that the Gunners manager has acknowledged that Wilshere will need to spend some time on the sidelines before the end of the season.
The England international only returned from almost a year-and-a-half out injured in the autumn but has featured on a regular basis since returning to fitness, playing 16 times for club and country since late October.
Wilshere missed the entirety of last season ankle and knee injuries but has started all but two of Arsenal’s matches since overcoming his injury concerns, but with Mikel Arteta ruled out for the next few weeks due to a calf injury the Guardian claims Wenger is not yet able to ease Wilshere’s burden.
However, the manager accepts that he cannot ask the 21-year-old to play at the same ferocious level for the rest of the season. Wenger said: “Maybe not in this period, [but] at some stage I will do it. At the moment I don't think he is overloaded because he just came back very recently, and you get the feeling he gets stronger.
“We have a good approach taking the physical analysis and statistical analysis between what the player feels and what the medical department thinks, and you have to come to a conclusion on that. At the moment, all these three are positives so I don't think at the moment I will rest him immediately. But it will happen.”
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