Filed under: Arsenal, Tottenham, Euro 2012, Champions League, Premier League, Football, Olympics, England Football
Jack Wilshere, the teenager deservedly voted Young Player of the Year by his fellow professionals, will have impressed his manager by his declaration that Arsenal can still win the Premier League title.The midfielder insists the Gunners can win their remaining fixtures and cash in on the inevitable moment when leaders Manchester United, under the burden of having to battle for a place in the Champions League final, drop points. It's the sort of attitude you need at the business end of a campaign.
But Arsene Wenger will not have been quite so delighted by Wilshere's candid confirmation that not only does he want to play in this summer's European Under-21 Championships finals against his manager's wishes but that he intends to do it all again next year by representing Great Britain in the Olympics.
Of course, England hope to have been busy before the London Games, by playing in the Euro 2012 finals and Wilshere is on course to make that squad too. No wonder, then, that Wenger, is so keen to remind Wilshere that he needs to rest at some point to prepare for club commitments. The Olympics football tournament is to take place from July 25 to August 11 and the new Premier League campaign kicks off on August 13.
But with Tottenham's Gareth Bale having already expressed a desire to play in the 2012 Games, which is for players aged under 23, Wilshere was crystal clear on his view on both tournaments.
"The Under-21 Championship is an international tournament and if I'm picked, I will go," he said. "I want to go - if I'm picked! Obviously, burn-out might be an issue. But the manager at Arsenal will give me the right time off and if I am selected I would never say no to my country.
"I don't feel tired at the minute. We are playing Sunday-Sunday now. We are out of the Champions League, so we have enough time to recover. And in 2012 the Olympics are going to be massive in London. It will be brilliant. It would be a dream to play in the Olympics."
At least Wenger can be potentially pacified by the fact that the Olympics participation will be a one off - Wilshere could feature as one of the three over-age squad members in 2016 but Great Britain don't usually enter the football tournament.
Yet there are plenty of Under-21 fixtures for which the youngster will be eligible and Wenger is no doubt waiting for the moment when the manager of the England senior side, be it Fabio Capello or whoever succeeds him next summer, declares that Jack Wilshere will be considered only for full internationals.
The Football Association's general secretary Alex Horne made it clear the governing body understood the dilemma. "We would have a conversation with Arsene and Jack, to see if it was feasible," he said of the prospect of 12 months of non-stop football for Wilshere. "It means the player will get no summer holiday - depending on how long we are in Poland and Ukraine for.
"It's tough. It's how Arsenal feel about it as they are the employer and as an athlete you have got to take a rest."
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/04/19/england-arsenal-great-britain-olympics-jack-wilshere/
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