Jumping Jack! Wenger revelling in Wilshere's finest performance since return

As Jack Wilshere turned in his best performance since returning from his 15 month injury hell on Saturday, his manager fired out a stark warning to Arsenal’s rivals.



‘Have we got our old Jack back? Yes…our young old Jack,’ said Arsene Wenger.



‘But he is not at his maximum yet, but on his showing against West Bromwich he is not too far away. '



Skipping clear: Jack Wilshere was almost back to his best against West Brom

The 20-year-old midfielder looked back to his brilliant best as the Gunners lifted at least some of the dark clouds that have cast a worrying shadow over the club in recent weeks.



His immaculate first touch, unerring vision and deadly passing ability has been on display since he made his long-awaited return in the 1-0 win organist QPR on October 27.



But against West Bromwich on Saturday, there was a sharpness - an incisiveness - about the England midfielder’s display.



‘He excites me, I played him when he was 16 because I saw something,’ said Wenger.



‘I’m just happy that a boy of 20 can play football because he was out for 15 months. I believe the surprising thing for me is how advanced he is.

‘I expected him to be back, next year in February, at his best. He looks much earlier than I expected him to be.

‘But I still have to be cautious. For example, against West Brom is the first time I see him very very close to the player he is.



Rough and tumble: Wilshere looks to have recovered well from injury

‘But we have to see if he has no reaction. It was good to leave him at home against Olympiakos in midweek, to give him a breather from time to time.

‘Maybe two, three games and then one breather maybe. But when he plays at that level, and you are under the pressure we are under to win the games, it is difficult to leave him out.’

Wilshere concurs: ‘Maybe I’m at 90 per cent. Every game that goes by I feel better and better fitness-wise.

‘When I get up to 100 per cent I will really show what I can do. I think the West Brom game was my best since coming back from injury.



‘It is a new experience for me – my first injury. I did not know what to expect. I spoke to a few players who have had long-term injuries.

‘They said you will come back and have a good game and you think “I am back” then you will have another game and you are not so good.

‘I think the first few games my adrenalin got me through which is why I was so up for it.



Brace yourself: Mikel Arteta scored both goals for Arsenal on Saturday

‘Then you start to realise it is not as simple as that and things start catching up with you. Then you start to get back back to your best.’

The Gunners had to rely on two Mikel Arteta penalties against Steve Clarke’s side on Saturday.



The Baggies manager had major gripes with referee Mike Jones’ decision to award both spot kicks - particularly the first as Santi Cazorla looked to blatantly dive under pressure from Steven Reid.



Wenger will remind Cazorla of his responsibilities after the weekend controversy, but the Spain international is expected to dodge any formal punishment.



‘I think it’s a wrong decision but that said I think referees have a difficult job,’ said defender Jonas Olsson.

‘They have to make the decision in a split second. If it’s a dive, the focus should be on the person diving as well.

