Wilshere limps out of Emirates Cup before taking swipe at boss
By Neil Moxley and Sam Cunningham
Jack Wilshere limped out of Arsenal’s pre-season and cranked up the pressure on Arsene Wenger by admitting his squad are still not fully equipped to mount a title challenge.
The England midfielder was substituted with an ankle injury after just seven minutes of Arsenal’s draw in the Emirates Cup against the New York Red Bulls and faces a race to be fit for the start of the season.
But Wilshere added to Wenger’s problems by insisting that more reinforcements are needed to complement the £10.5million arrival of Gervinho.
‘We are not a spending club but we still managed to stay up there with the top teams,’ he said. ‘And we have to win things this year.
‘Maybe if we had a few more faces we could really push on. If we get a few more players we can really challenge for the title.
‘Around March and April we have to stay really strong. We are confident we can be up and around it then so we have to remain strong at that crucial time.’
Wenger’s problems — he has already lost Theo Walcott to injury — are not helped by the continued confusion surrounding Cesc Fabregas’s future.
The Spain midfielder left the stadium at half-time on Saturday and was absent yesterday as a late own goal ruined Arsenal’s chances of landing the Emirates Cup for the third successive season.
Wilshere added: ‘It would be a big loss, losing Cesc. He’s our captain and our best player. But we feel we can cope if he does leave. We’ll have to, there’s no other way around it.’
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The 19-year-old’s availability for the kick-off against Newcastle is in doubt. Wenger confirmed that the teenager will be rested this week.
If he fails to face Benfica next week, will not be part of Fabio Capello’s squad for the upcoming friendly against Holland.
Wenger said: ‘It is not very serious. But it’s serious enough that they say he will be out for the whole of next week. It’s inflammation but he has not torn anything.
‘He is a quick healer usually and a tough boy, so I hope he will heal more quickly than the medical prediction.
'The England game is on August 10. If he’s out next week, then he won’t play against Benfica, so he certainly won’t play in the England game.’
A near full house saw Arsenal dominate against opponents who sat back for long periods.
Robin van Persie’s header from Tomas Rosicky’s free-kick appeared to have done enough to secure the victory and with it the cup.
However, three minutes from time Thierry Henry sent left back Roy Miller scampering away and the defender’s cross was turned into his own net by substitute Kyle Bartley.
The final whistle was greeted by jeers from a section of the crowd. Wenger said: ‘The supporters have to put that into perspective. People always want to win and that I understand but I don’t think we need to put any extra pressure on ourselves.‘
The most important thing now is to prepare and take the pressure when the results really matter.
'I don’t think you can compare playing friendlies with the league.’
Henry was feted by the crowd, who chanted ‘Let him score’ in the first half but it seemed that even the legendary France forward cannot bend the laws of the game to his own ends.
As Wenger said: ‘We had a surprise for Thierry and that was that we wanted him to play for the last five minutes for us.
‘He was desperate to do it but the referee turned it down. I went in to see (the referee) but he was adamantly against it. One player cannot play for two teams in the same game.’
Would that have been before the striker’s assist or after it, Wenger was asked. ‘Of course, before,’ grinned Arsenal’s boss.
But as he prepares for a campaign with a squad who look light compared to their competitors, that smile is looking increasingly forced.
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Ashton had no comment. 
