Wilshere and Ramsey: two young gunners

The Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, talks about likely return to the football of Jack Wilshere, young English midfielder. Wilshere is absent from football for 14 months, faraway from football for long time, and has often been thought that his career was over.

"I refused to give up, because he is a 19-year-old boy, so I always thought he would come back. I am not medically expert enough to know how big the damage was in his ankle. It never crossed my mind. Has it crossed his mind? Only he can answer that - I think, yes. Jack, though, has always been with a good level of confidence. I believe what he has gone through will make him even stronger."

The England international finally returned to full training on Thursday after a niggling ankle injury sidelined him for the whole of last season, also ruling him out of contention for Euro 2012.

Wenger, though, will take no chances with the 20-year-old, who is likely to have a few reserve outings before being considered for first-team action.

"When you are so young and out for 14 months that is a good test for your mental strength," said Wenger. "On that front he has been absolutely brilliant because he had not only ankle surgery, but when he thought that was over he had knee surgery. He handled that very well, I must say.

Wenger understands Wilshere has been through a testing spell of "highs and lows" during his 14-month rehabilitation, a spell which saw him need further surgery just when a recovery appeared on the horizon.

Aaron Ramsey seems to have an old head on his young shoulders sometimes. The 21-year old captain of Wales has had plenty of ups and downs already in his career, but is determined not to let things affect him too much, concentrating instead on doing his job, playing football.

“We have definitely learned from last season. We got off to a bad start and finished really strongly. But this time we have started off well so hopefully we can keep that going.”

“We are going about it quietly and hopefully we can continue this good run and see where it takes us.”