• Premier League

Arsenal to arrange extra friendly for Wilshere & Sagna

ESPN staff
October 10, 2012
Jack Wilshere is on the comeback trail © PA Photos
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Arsenal are hoping to arrange a friendly during the international break as Jack Wilshere edges closer to a first-team comeback.

The England international has not played for the Gunners since July 2011 after a series of setbacks in his recovery from an ankle injury.

Arsenal Under-21s boss Terry Burton claimed Wilshere was "on the right path" after he played a part in both goals as the U21s beat Reading 2-0 on Monday.

Now Burton has revealed the Gunners are trying to organise a friendly behind closed doors to help give both Wilshere and Bacary Sagna, who has not featured since breaking his leg in May, extra game time.

"There is no Under-21 fixture scheduled for next week, and so the club are trying to arrange something to fill the gap," Burton said.

"We'll probably try and rearrange a game of some sort next week to keep them going. Obviously I'll speak to the boss about that, but we'll try and fix them another game."

Meanwhile Sagna admitted he struggled mentally after suffering two major injuries last season.

"When you have such a big injury once, you take it, but twice is hard," Sagna told Arsenal Player. "In my mind I was a bit sad, but the next day I was ready for the challenge, which was to come back stronger and I am in a good way today.

"It is amazing to be back, I have been waiting for this moment for five months. This was my target: to come back and play, firstly for the Under-21 team. I have been working really hard. I spent some time in the rehab centre, then I came back and worked really hard with the fitness coach and the physios to be ready to play - and finally I have."

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