Arsene Wenger admits even he has been taken aback by Jack Wilshere's
development, with the England starlet set to return to the Arsenal side
for Wednesday night's Champions League Group H clash at Shakhtar
Donetsk.
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Wenger has brought through many talented youngsters, moulding them into
world-class players - such as Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who misses
the trip to Ukraine because of a hamstring problem.
The Gunners boss, however, has also long championed the need for
patience with Wilshere.
The 18-year-old has grabbed the headlines with some impressive displays -
as well as his needless red card against Birmingham - since his return
from a productive loan spell at Bolton which saw the combative
midfielder on Tuesday rewarded with a new long-term deal.
The Arsenal manager, though, admits even he did not envisage things
would go so well in a short space of time for the teenager, who won his
first full England cap at the start of the season.
"I am very much surprised. I didn't expect that to happen so quickly," Wenger said.
"You have to be open-minded in our job and most of the time when it happens like that you are happy."
Wenger is confident Wilshere - who has now served a three-match domestic
ban - can help fill the void left by Fabregas' absence to provide link
to an attack which has netted 14 goals in three European games.
"When Fabregas is not there you have to share a little bit the decisive
passing, the building up of the game between [Samir] Nasri, [Jack]
Wilshere or [Tomas] Rosicky for example, so that is the task we have,"
said Wenger.
"We have many creative players who can create good passes and that is what I count on.
"Wilshere is not scared to take the ball so he will have a part of it to do."
Wenger deployed Wilshere to great effect in a more advanced role when Arsenal travelled to Partizan Belgrade.
And with Andrey Arshavin, Alex Song and Denilson also carrying knocks, the teenager could be asked to do so again.
"If I play with two more defensive midfield players behind him he can
play that role," the Arsenal manager reflected, "but if I use Jack
deeper and for example Nasri or Rosicky in front of them, he remains in
the same position."
Opposite number Mircea Lucescu maintains Europe will see the real
Shakhtar Donetsk when the Ukrainians look to avenge their 5-1 thrashing
at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners chalked up a record 14 goals from their opening three Group H
games, with Shakhtar going the same way as Braga and Partizan Belgrade
as Wenger's side took control of Group H.
Another positive result for Arsenal and the Barclays Premier League club
could secure their place in the last 16 of Europe's elite once again.
However, since the thrashing in north London, Shakhtar have won all
three of their domestic matches without conceding a goal.
Arsenal have yet to record a victory in Ukraine, and with the Minors
boasting an impressive record of only two defeats of their last 30
matches in all competitions, Lucescu believes his men can head into
Wednesday's return fixture at Donbass Arena with some confidence.
"After analysing all the technical and tactical actions, I can say that
the teams had about the same of the ball, 51% to 49%, and the passing
also were about the same level," the Romanian said.
"We hope to show to our fans and the whole of Europe that now it will be
a quite different Shakhtar. We have analysed the game that was in
London to draw attention to the mistakes."
Lucescu added: "Not in any way do I think that Arsenal is stronger than Shakhtar. We will try to demonstrate that on the field."
Arsenal never looked back after being gifted an early goal following a
terrible fumble by Shakhtar keeper Andrei Pyatov.
However, Lucescu continues to lament a number of decisions by Swedish
referee Svein Moen which he felt went in favour of the home side.
Swiss official Massimo Busacca, who took charge of the 2009 Champions
League final between Manchester United and Barcelona, will be the man in
the middle on Wednesday.
"I hope that tomorrow will be valid and neutral refereeing, which will
help football in general. We will try to fulfil their responsibilities
on the field," said Lucescu.
"The mistakes of the referee in favour of Arsenal were clearly visible."
Source: DSG