All right Jack: Wilshere continues his comeback

Jack Wilshere continued his rehabilitation last night by playing 74 minutes for Arsenal Under-21s.

This was Wilshere’s second competitive game after 14 months out with ankle and knee injuries and was a big improvement on last Monday’s return at West Brom.

Arsenal’s reserve team and head development coach Terry Burton was able to field a strong team for the game against Reading at Barnet, with Emmanuel Frimpong and Francis Coquelin lining up alongside Wilshere in midfield, while Andre Santos and Bacary Sagna started at full-back.

Wilshere, watched by manager Arsene Wenger, started well, switching between roles in front of the defence and behind centre-forward Chuba Akpom.

He steadily grew in confidence and set up the first goal, playing a delightful reverse pass to Thomas Eisfeld, who passed to Serge Gnabry. The 17-year-old cut in from the right wing and finished powerfully into the far corner.

There was some fairly robust tackling directed at Wilshere in the second half but he was equal to it. Arsenal’s next U21 game is away to Everton on October 22.