Hull City vs Arsenal preview - Jack will get back to best - Wenger

Posted Sunday, May 03, 2015 by PA

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has every confidence midfielder Jack Wilshere will return to fulfil his potential after another frustrating injury-hit season.

Wilshere, 23, has been on the bench in recent weeks after finally recovering from first ankle ligament damage following a tackle by Manchester United defender Patrick McNair on November 22, and then minor surgery to removes some studs on the pins in the bone.

It is the latest in a long line of setbacks for the England international, who missed the whole of the 2011/2012 campaign following ankle trouble picked up in a pre-season game.

Wenger, though, is in no doubt Wilshere can continue his development with a solid run of good health.

"Jack is in front of what we expected him to be," Wenger said.

"What takes a long time and what people underestimate a little bit is that to get back to be capable to play is one thing, but to be back and be capable to be sharp and efficient takes a bit longer.

"Even the players, from the moment they train again fully and the moment they are really back to their level, they are impatient, but it takes much longer than they think to get sharp again.

"In the Premier League it is a fraction of a second that makes you efficient or not."

Wenger continued: "Jack plays with freedom as soon as he is back, so I don't think on that front it will be a problem.

"But he needs now one or two years without problems to really get the full confidence and belief back, and I don't see why it shouldn't happen."

A lack of regular first-team action has led to suggestions Wilshere could be tempted away in the summer, with Manchester City reported to be ready to come in with a big-money offer.

Wenger, though, has no interest in any sales talk.

"Jack is an Arsenal player. I believe the success of the club in the future years will depend on how well the young players educated here will do, and he is part of that," Wenger said.

Arsenal head to Hull on Monday night looking to keep up the pressure in the battle with Manchester City and Manchester United for second place in the Barclays Premier League.

With the FA Cup final at Wembley against Aston Villa also on the horizon, there could yet be a silver end to the Gunners' campaign.

Wenger, though, is not about to worry himself over analysing whether the season as a whole can be viewed as a success.

"At my age I am not on an ego trip - I just want to do well for my club and go home and think I have given absolutely everything to do well, and after that everyone has to the right to have an opinion," the 65-year-old said.

"After every game we have a tribunal and you have to face the court, and it is (thumbs) up or down, like in Roman times.

"We have to live with that, but at the end of the day, continuity is still important."

Arsenal have a near full squad to chose from, with full-back Matheiue Debuchy doubtful because of a hamstring problem.

Hull's nail-biting campaign to avoid the drop is being overshadowed by a stand-off between the club's owner Assem Allam and a vocal section of Tiger supporters.

Back-to-back Premier League wins have given Steve Bruce's side real hope of staying up ahead of the visit of in-form Arsenal.

But despite recent good results some fans continue to demand the exit of Allam, who has refused to give up on his ambition to change the club's name to Hull Tigers.

The dispute has intensified after it was revealed Hull have not spent any of the B#200,000 Away Supporters Initiative (ASI) money provided from central Premier League coffers on their own fans.

Instead of subsidising away travel, the club say they have spent the money on improving the match experience at the KC Stadium for visiting supporters.

Mark Gretton, chairman of the Hull City Supporters' Trust, said: "We're bitterly disappointed that the club has once again treated its supporters in an utterly disdainful manner, a manner that, sadly, we are becoming used to."

Co-owner Ehab Allam insists the club's policy falls completely within Premier League guidelines but there were chants of "We want Allam out" at Tuesday's 1-0 win over Liverpool and Bruce has appealed for togetherness for the final few matches of the season.

Bruce said: "Without the owner, let alone not having a team that beats Liverpool, we would not even have a bus.

"Away fans has been the next debate and has provided this undercurrent for the protests. But I keep reminding people that without the owner and something like B£70million of his own money there wouldn't be a club. It's frustrating for him, disappointing.

"For goodness' sake, let's go forward together."

Bruce is certain to keep faith with the same line-up that beat Liverpool and Crystal Palace before that, including a remarkable swansong from 40-year-old keeper Steve Harper who has been outstanding since being brought in to replace an out-of-form Allan McGregor.

Bruce added: "He's certainly a calm customer who over two years has never let us down. His experience and positioning has proved what a very, very good goalkeeper he is.

"He can't play week in and week out for a season but he's been a terrific signing when Allan has lost a bit of form."

Bruce should have striker Nikica Jelavic back on the bench against Arsenal - the Croatian striker has been sidelined since having surgery on a knee problem in March.