England star has spent more time off the pitch than on it in recent times.
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Arsenal have received a huge boost after midfield player Jack Wilshere again came through unscathed after his second run-out following ankle surgery at the end of last season, reports the Daily Mirror.
The England international has been forced to endure an injury-ravaged past two years after initially suffering a stress fracture to his ankle in a pre-season friendly against the New York Red Bulls in August 2011 that saw the 21-year-old sidelined for 17 months.
However, after finally making his long-awaited comeback in the previous campaign, the playmaker then had to have a pin in his ankle removed at the end of last season as it was causing the player discomfort when he took to the field.
Wilshere did, though, manage to feature in 33 matches in total in all competitions last time out for the north London club, during which time he registered two goals and six assists along the way after having not made a single appearance for the Gunners in the entire 2011-12 campaign.
And now having played for 45 minutes in Arsenal’s impressive 3-1 win against Japanese outfit Nagoya Grampus on Monday, Wilshere confirmed that he was feeling no after effects from the run out, other than feeling a little tired that is.
“It was tough. I went into a few tackles. But if you don’t go in properly that’s when you can’t get yourself hurt. If you go in half and half you can hurt yourself. So I had to go into a couple of challenges,” said Wilshere.
“That’s my game. I can’t ever lose that or I wouldn’t be the player I am. Obviously a game is different to training so I had a few aches and pains in other places but the ankle was fine.
“I’ve been doing a lot of power work when I wasn’t able to do the fitness work. So power-wise I’m at the same level as the other players. But fitness wise I’m a bit behind. But it’s coming.
“I played 45, I felt good and in the next game I’ll hopefully get an hour and then we’ve got the Emirates Cup and I’m looking to get a full game there.
“Conditions here will help us when we get back to England. There’s no air. You’re struggling to breathe at times. This will really help us.
“We had a three-day training camp and we needed that because before that it was more about travelling and going to functions. We’ve come through it and come through the game.”