Arsenal's Jack Wilshere reveals he is close to signing a new deal and supports Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal's troubled season has lurched into new crisis. Tuesday's Capital One Cup penalty shoot-out defeat by Bradford City has left manager Arsene Wenger under intense pressure and questions are being asked about his future.
An exodus of big-name players - such as former captains Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie - over recent seasons, reports of coaching staff bust-ups and the infamous failure to win a trophy in seven years has only added to a feeling of negativity around Emirates Stadium.
But ahead of Monday night's Premier League match at Reading, Jack Wilshere, arguably Arsenal's brightest prospect following his return from last season's injury nightmare, is not panicking. The 20-year-old knows improvements are needed but he is also excited by the potential.
Here, talking at a
FIFA 13 Ultimate Team appearance, Wilshere reveals he is close to signing a new contract, discusses Arsenal's Champions League-winning credentials and explains why Wenger is still the right man to manage the club.
It was seen as important for Arsenal to win a cup. Where does the Capital One Cup quarter-final defeat by Bradford leave Arsenal's season?
First and foremost, we have to know our season is not over. It was the Capital One Cup. It was not one of our main targets. Obviously it is nice to get a trophy and we were all up for it and wanting to get a trophy. But we had a shock exit and it hurts a lot. But it is only December and we are still in every other competition.
What was it like in the dressing room afterwards? Was there a sense of disbelief?
We were all disappointed. It is horrible to lose on penalties. It is not a nice way to go out. But we know we should have won it. Maybe not in normal time but in extra time we had so many chances. We just had to put the ball in the back of the net but it did not happen.
How much does Arsenal's seven-year trophy drought play on the mind of players?
It is something we have to change. It is there and it adds to the pressure. It has been too long for a club like Arsenal. We used to win trophies in the past so there is no reason why we cannot. We have got good players. Maybe there is just a mental block we need to get over. When we get our first one, it can all start to happen.
You played in the 2011 League Cup final defeat by Birmingham City. That was a great Arsenal team who maybe had a chance of winning the league. Is there a sense that if you had won that League Cup final, you might have gone on and won more trophies?
In that particular season, that changed our season. We were still in the title race but went downhill. That did not help. But now we are in a totally different season. We have to show character. It is December. We are not half way through the season yet so we have still got a long way to go. We have still got a lot of trophies to go for.
What can Arsenal realistically win this year?
We can still realistically win everything we are in. I know we are a long way behind in the Premier League but football changes quickly. If we win three games and another team loses a couple and draws one, we are back in it. It is not in our hands so we need a bit of luck. We are in the last 16 of the Champions League, that is going to be difficult. But we know in the Champions League anything can happen. It is two games and we can beat anybody. We showed that at home before when we beat Barcelona. There is no reason why we cannot do it again. We have got a hard game against Swansea City in the FA Cup. But if we win that and a couple of big teams go out, anything can happen in cup football.
So you think this Arsenal team can win the Champions League with a bit of luck?
You saw with Chelsea last year, no-one would have said in December they were going to win the Champions League. But they got a bit of luck. There are top-quality teams and the best players in Europe so you are going to need a bit of luck. You never know what can happen.
There are questions beginning to be asked about Arsene Wenger, which has not happened in the past. He has put a lot of faith in you. Why is he still the man who should be manager of Arsenal?
For one, every year he has been in the Champions League and there is no other manager who has done that. He has built a legacy at this club. He changed everything from when he came in 15-16 years ago. He brought the Total Football, if you like, to Arsenal - the passing game. He has also been great for me. He has shown great faith in me from when I was young. He stuck with me when I was injured and has still stuck by me. For me, there is no question he is the right man. You cannot start questioning him because we have had a few bad results. The players have to look at themselves.
Have there been enough leaders on the pitch for Arsenal? Do some of the men need to step forward?
There are definitely some leaders in the team. It has been a hard season so I think the leaders really need to step up and be counted. We have got Thomas Vermaelen, who is our captain, Per Mertesacker has a lot of caps for Germany and Lukas Podolski. Even Santi Cazorla is a leader, because of the way he plays.
What is Arsene Wenger like immediately after a game? Do his feelings come out?
If we do not perform, he is entitled to get angry. He is entitled to dig players out, if they are not pulling their weight. I think the way we played against Bradford, he deserved to be angry. It is only normal to be angry and upset.
Were the players surprised at the strength of the team Arsene Wenger picked to face Bradford? It was one of the best teams he has selected in the League Cup.
It is a competition at the end of the day and we were in a good position. We knew it was going to be a tough game. It is difficult for the foreign players to come here in their first season and know what playing Bradford away is like. A lot of people would think Bradford away is easy but, trust me, it is not. It is maybe even quicker and more intense than the Premier League. They get up to you and close you down.
When you hear boos going around the stadium after a defeat, what do you say to each other as players?
We understand the fans' frustration. They pay their money. If we are not performing, they can boo. We should not be losing games at home with the team we have. We were disappointed we lost the Swansea game and the fans deserved to boo us.
You grew up as an Arsenal fan in the era when Arsene Wenger was changing the club for a trophy-laden period with Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira. The club is now in another transition. In your career, do you believe the club can return to being a force?
I think we can. We are in a transition. We lost a lot of big players over the last few years. We have brought in some big players but they need time to adapt. If we can stick together as a team and be united, over the next few years, we can really develop.
