Wilshere calls on team-mates to bounce back from Barca blow

JACK WILSHERE has urged his Arsenal team-mates to use their anger after Tuesday night’s controversial Champions League defeat to Barcelona as motivation to win a Premier League and FA Cup double.

Arsene Wenger’s side had just retaken the lead on aggregate thanks to a Sergio Busquets own-goal when Robin Van Persie was shown a second yellow card by referee Massimo Busacca for time wasting after the Dutchman shot at goal having been flagged offside.

The striker was furious, as was Wenger, but Barcelona duly made the most of their numerical advantage to score twice more through Xavi and Lionel Messi to progress to the quarter-finals thanks to a 4-3 aggregate victory.

And while the rest of the Arsenal squad raged at the referee on Twitter, Wilshere — who is swiftly becoming the heartbeat of this side — preferred to focus on the extra incentive it has given his team, who face Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday and are three points behind the same opponents with a game in hand in the Premier League.

“Maybe now that we are out of Europe, we can be stronger in the league, concentrate on that more, and really push on to try to win the league,” said Wilshere.

“We have got great mental strength, and although there is disappointment in the dressing room we have got to pick ourselves up and go to Manchester United to get the win. It (the FA Cup tie at Old Trafford) is massive.

“We are still in two competitions, just three points behind Manchester United in the league and with a game in hand.

“We know we have got good mental strength and have to bounce back now.

“We never give up, that is the spirit of Arsenal. We are still in two competitions and need to get a trophy this year, that will be the aim.”

And despite appearing incredibly assured at the Nou Camp, Wilshere admitted he still had much to learn after the game. With Cesc Fabregas off the pace as he struggled with his hamstring injury, Wilshere was Arsenal’s driving force in midfield, but he insists there is more to come.

“I will learn a lot from my own performance, but I would rather be going through,” he added. “To be playing against people like Xavi and Iniesta is brilliant.

“It was a great experience. At my age, I am still learning and there are no better players to learn from.”

And Bacary Sagna says Arsenal will not dwell on their defeat and believes they will bounce back against United, who face their own Champions League last 16 tie against Marseille just three days later.

“We have to be strong because we want to be successful,” said the full-back. “We have to fight for the team, for the fans and everyone. We want to bring something back to the Emirates and so we have to think about the next game.

“I am not thinking about (the possibility of winning nothing). I am confident and looking forward to winning something. We will see at the end of the season. We have to bring something back because we have the quality to do it and we need to do it.

“We are ready to fight because we are even more frustrated after what happened.

“Everyone is disappointed but we want to bounce back. We are playing again on Saturday and it will be another big game. We just want to go there and play our football.”