Wenger reveals possible Wilshere return

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed Jack Wilshere could make a first-team return in next weekend’s Premier League clash with QPR.

The England midfielder has not played a first-team match since July 31 last year following ankle, foot and knee problems.

Wilshere has stepped up his recovery in recent weeks with two games for the Gunners’ under-21 side.

Wenger says the 20-year-old is potentially one more appearance away from a first-team return.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Norwich on Saturday, Wenger told reporters: “There is no apprehension (from Wilshere, going into challenges). He is 80 per cent match fit. (Bacary) Sagna is similar.

“He needs one more game, maybe Monday night for the (under-21s), then he will be back.”

Wenger also weighed in on the issue of racism in football, which resurfaced this week after Danny Rose alleged he was racially abused while on international duty for England’s under-21s in Serbia.

Despite noting that football has made progress in combating the problem, Wenger has called on governing bodies to do more, starting with stricter penalties.

“… I don’t think that racism is still a big problem in football but you have some people or some countries who react to that still and you have to continue to fight against it,” Wenger said.

“Therefore, how is the question – by being severe.

“But still when I think of when I was a kid to today we have made huge progress, society has improved on that front. But it’s still not done and you have to continue to fight it.

“In this country (England), I think I am here long enough to say they tackle the problem, they don’t hide behind it. They try to do something about it.

“You can always after say it’s not hard enough or too hard, but at least they do something about it. It’s not easy, you know, you need to have consistent behaviour to fight it every year.”