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Jack Wilshere injury: Arsenal midfielder to return in Under-21 tie against Newcastle on Friday

Wilshere has not played a competitive game since representing England last June

Jack Pitt-Brooke

Thursday 07 April 2016 11:19 BST

Jack Wilshere and Arsene Wenger during Arsenal training (Getty)

Arsene Wenger backed Jack Wilshere to put his bad luck and bad press behind him tomorrow night when he returns to action for Arsenal Under-21s. Wilshere has not played a competitive game since representing England last June, after breaking his leg in August, but he will face Newcastle United Under-21s at the Emirates on Friday.

Wilshere’s week has been slightly soured by the news that last Saturday night he was spoken to by the Metropolitan Police about an altercation outside a nightclub in central London. Wenger insisted at his press conference this morning that it was a “a completely private matter”, but both he and assistant manager Steve Bould have spoken to the 24-year-old England midfielder about his behaviour, not for the first time.

“There was no training session the next day [last Sunday], he had a day off, and you can accept that sometimes the players go out when they are free the next day,” Wenger said. “The incident looks to have been taken out of proportion a bit, and of course we like to keep these matters internal.”

Wenger fiercely defended Wilshere’s professionalism and said that bad luck, rather than bad behaviour, was what had slowed down his progress. “He is very serious and very dedicated,” Wenger said. “I invite you to come in every day and watch him work. You will understand that he is very, very dedicated. The only thing that could stop him from having the career he could make is injuries. He has a history of injuries, but I hope he can get rid of that. Then he will have the career he deserves.”

Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

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1/24Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

David Ospina - 6 out of 10

With Petr Cech set to return to the side against West Ham next week another solid display from Ospina will have done enough to earn him Wenger’s trust – or even a move in the summer.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Hector Bellerin - 8 out of 10

An admittedly fortuitous goal capped off a very impressive display from Bellerin, who burst forward throughout to add another string to Arsenal’s bow. His partnership with Sanchez in particular shows real signs of promise.

Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Gabriel - 5 out of 10

Those calamitous moments Gabriel is capable of producing are getting no rarer with more regular starts. There were moments when his diving interventions were crucial but equally occasions when he slipped off and Watford nearly capitalised.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Laurent Koscielny - 7 out of 10

Composed throughout, he swept up in behind as Watford looked to unleash the pace of Ighalo and Amrabat. In particular he made a telling contribution when the former had left Gabriel on his backside.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Nacho Monreal - 7 out of 10

Throughout the 90 minutes Monreal did not put a foot wrong, keeping track of the modest threat provided by Amrabat whilst adding the Arsenal’s overloading of the left flank.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Mohamed Elneny - 7 out of 10

At half-time he had completed 63 of 64 passes, typical of a display that may not have been the most adventurous but was as reliable as Wenger could want from one of his deep-lying duo.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Francis Coquelin - 8 out of 10

At his best, as he was today, he is Arsenal’s one-man midfield. Ferocious in the tackle but also showed a real eye for a pass, setting his side on course for several dangerous attacks.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Alexis Sanchez - 8 out of 10

The direct, energetic and arrogant figure of last season was back at the Emirates for the first time in some while. His early goal only added to his sense of belief and soon he was driving at defences with relish.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Mesut Ozil - 7 out of 10

He may not have left his mark on the scoresheet or in the assist column but there was plenty to like from Ozil, who ghosted into space and kept the attack ticking as others stole the headlines.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Alex Iwobi - 9 out of 10

Another goal but that was just a mere moment in an outstanding display from the 19-year-old. His burgeoning understanding with Welbeck down the left offers real promise for Wenger over the years ahead.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Danny Welbeck - 7 out of 10

He may not quite have lived up to his manager’s comparisons with Aubameyang but he once more looked like the right man to lead the Arsenal line, providing the ideal blend of pace and power and showing great interplay with the three behind him.

Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Olivier Giroud - 6 out of 10

The game was over by the time he came off the bench and he had little opportunity to show what he could do.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Heurelho Gomes - 5 out of 10

Could do nothing about Sanchez’s opener, where he saved well before the rebound was converted, but must answer serious questions about missing Iwobi’s shot at a time when Watford were putting pressure on their hosts.

Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Allan Nyom - 5 out of 10

Could often find himself with three or four Arsenal players ganging up on him and would be entitled to berate his midfielders for the meagre support they offered him. One could be critical of how often Iwobi breezed past him but there was rarely much he could do.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Sebastian Prodl - 4 out of 10

All too often was dragged out of position when Welbeck and Iwobi interchanged along the left flank. His response, to go flying into tackles, only served to make matters worse for Watford.

Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Craig Cathcart - 6 out of 10

With Welbeck relentlessly targeting the struggling Prodl Arsenal’s attacks often passed Cathcart by, though when called upon he was always willing to throw himself in front of the ball.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Nathan Ake - 5 out of 10

Looked very ordinary against Bellerin and Sanchez, who outjumped him for Arsenal’s opener. With the injured Capoue offering little protection he was dragged around whilst offering little protection.

Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Ben Watson - 5 out of 10

A day typified by the moment when a tame Bellerin shot deflected off him and into the net. Certainly he was not short on effort but nothing quite went right for him.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Almen Abdi - 5 out of 10

Got stuck in on plenty of occasions but could do little to stem the tide of Arsenal attackers dribbling past him and his team-mates.

Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Etienne Capoue - 6 out of 10

Started very brightly in the opening moments, remorselessly harrying Hector Bellerin, but seemed to pick up an injury and was struggling to keep up prior to his exit on 40 minutes.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Mario Suarez - 5 out of 10

Started very brightly in the opening moments, remorselessly harrying Hector Bellerin, but seemed to pick up an injury and was struggling to keep up prior to his exit on 40 minutes.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Troy Deeney - 6 out of 10

Gave as good as he got as Watford all too often had little choice but to punt the ball up to their captain. He gave his all to give Arsenal difficulties but largely in vain.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Odion Ighalo - 5 out of 10

Certainly not short of running but seriously starved of service in the game’s opening half. Bar one impressive touch to leave Gabriel on the deck he seriously struggled to make an impact and was off at half-time.

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Arsenal vs Watford player ratings

Ikechi Anya - 5 out of 10

Outpaced by Bellerin time and time again, there was also very little of any threat from the Scottish winger on the counter.

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Wilshere will be joined by Tomas Rosicky in tomorrow night’s Under-21 game and Wenger said that with more Under-21 exposure after that, Wilshere could return to the first team. “I am a bit cautious because of history,” Wenger said. “Let’s not rush it too much, and let’s see how he responds to the next game. He has a big part to play in the game tomorrow night, and hopefully he will come through well. I am a bit cautious with that.”

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