Jack Wilshere
Reuters

The England international turned out for the Gunners' U21 side at Underhill, against the Reading youth team. Arsenal U21 won 2-0, with goals from Serge Gnabry and Chuba Akpom. Fellow first team midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong also played the game, as he recovers from his cruciate injury, while French international Bacary Sagna (recovering from a broken leg at Norwich towards the end of last season) started and played trouble-free for an hour before being substituted. Wilshere went off after 74 minutes while Frimpong played the full 90.

Wilshere was particularly impressive and manager Arsene Wenger, watching from the stands, would have been particularly pleased at the youngster's contribution - he played a part in the first goal and created the second. Wenger has been quoted as saying that while he is delighted with Wilshere's recovery, he would not rush the youngster back at any cost.

"Jack is doing very well but we need to be a bit patient. He needs a few games, progressive build-up to get his body used again to competition, to shocks, to fights," the veteran Frenchman explained, adding, "We have to be cautious, not crazy, because of his talent you are always pushed in a situation where you would like to rush him back, and we have to resist that."

Wenger would have been even happier as he left Underhill after the game, given the performances of other youngsters like Thomas Eisfeld, who created the first goal for Gnabry, and England U19 international Akpom.

Bacary Sagna
Reuters

The Gunners will return after the international break to face Norwich City at Carrow Road on 20 October. Sagna will almost certainly sit that one out but Wilshere and Frimpong may see some game time in that fixture, as Wenger looks to re-build his squad before Bundesliga side Schalke 04 come visiting, on 24 October, for a Champions League game.

Giroud is Baptised

Meanwhile, the Gunners' French striker, Olivier Giroud, who finally scored in the Premier League, in the 3-1 win over West Ham is full of confidence after his 41st minute strike. Giroud's goal, set up by fellow new signing Lukas Podolski, levelled the match after Mohamad Diame's early opener.

"It sounds a bit silly, but seeing the ball in the back of the net was something I was waiting for in the Premier League. At last I've been baptised, I hope there are many more to come," the former Montpellier man said, adding that he expected things to improve from now on.