Wilshere gives Wenger a lesson in straight talking

AS Arsène Wenger tied himself in knots attempting to distinguish between Jack Wilshere’s clumsy, ill-timed lunge on Nikola Zigic and the rash of other shocking challenges this season, the teenager offered his manager a lesson in the art of plain speaking.

“I just want to say that I mistimed the challenge on Zigic and accept that I deserved to be sent-off,” said the 18-year-old.

Clear and to the point, Wilshere’s reaction was everything that Wenger’s wasn’t as the Frenchman’s capacity to backtrack reached new levels.