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Jack Wilshere has given himself the ultimate fitness test - and insists he has passed with flying colours, writes John Cross in Nagoya.

Wilshere played 45 minutes in his second outing of Arsenal's pre-season tour of Asia as they came through their toughest test by beating Nagoya Grampus 3-1 .

Arsenal midfielder Wilshere, coming back after ankle surgery at the end of last season , did not hold back in the friendly and has been doing tough double training sessions most days to dispel any lingering fears about his fitness.

Wilshere said: "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.

"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.

(Image: Getty)

"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."

Olivier Giroud, Japanese winger Ryo Miyaichi - who got a hero's reception from the 42,919 screaming fans at the Toyota Stadium - and Theo Walcott were on target as they ran out comfortable winners against Arsene Wenger's former club .

But two of the stars of the trip have been youngsters Gedion Zelalem, 16, and Serge Gnabry, 18, as both came on and impressed. Zelalem's stunning pass set up Walcott's goal and he is already being compared to Cesc Fabregas at the same age.

Wilshere added: "I've spoken about them before, especially Zelalem. He sees passes that not a lot of players can. You think: 'what's he doing?' and suddenly someone is in. He's only 16 and he's an exciting player.

"It won't be long before he's ready. He's so comfortable on the ball. Even in training he's a nightmare to play against. He keeps the ball away from you and shields it. He's not very big but he's strong.

"He drifts in and out of players. He's quite a strong lad and technically he's right up there. He can use his left and right and sees so many passes. He's a good one for the future."

Arsenal boss Wenger was also happy with his younger players but concerned about growing defensive worries. Spanish left back Nacho Monreal could be out for months after damaging a disc in his back during the Confederations Cup.

Thomas Vermaelen, who can double up at left back and centre half, is out for at least three months while Laurent Koscielny also sat out the game in Nagoya with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wojciech Szczesny carrying niggles.

That leaves Kieran Gibbs as Arsenal's only left back and Wenger admits it is a cause for concern and it may prompt him to go back for Swansea's Ashley Williams to bolster his back four.

Wenger added: "Monreal has had an injection and it looks like he will miss the start of the season and of course we have lost one left back and that's a position where we are a bit exposed.

"Vermaelen can play there, he is injured. Monreal can play there, he is injured. At the moment we only have Kieran Gibbs who can play ay left back."