England midfielder Jack Wilshere and
France full-back Bacary Sagna came
through 90 minutes of an Arsenal
training ground friendly against
Chelsea unscathed.
The first-team duo have started U21
fixtures this month but, until now,
neither had completed a game since
recovering from the long-term injuries
that hampered them last season.
Wilshere operated in an advanced
midfield role while Sagna played the
first half at right-back before moving
into a central role after the break.
The visitors won the game courtesy of
well-taken goals from Billy Clifford and
Islam Feruz.
Chelsea captain John Terry was also
involved for the first 45 minutes having
announced his international retirement
last month while Andre Santos, Francis
Coquelin, Andrey Arshavin and
Marouane Chamakh and Emmanuel
Frimpong all figured for the Gunners.
Wilshere, fully recovered from the knee
injury which kept him out for 12
months, went close to an equaliser in
the 65th minute at London Colney,
surging into the box and forcing a low
save from Jamal Blackman.
Encouragingly for Arsenal, Wilshere
and Frimpong showed little sign of lack
of match practice, both making driving
runs into Chelsea territory late on in
the friendly.
And Sagna also looks to be nearing
manager Arsene Wenger's plans after
overcoming the second leg break he
suffered in the 2011/12 season.
No comments:
Post a Comment