Wenger joy at Wilshere return

Arsenal midfielder Arsene Wenger admits it seemed like Jack Wilshere had spent “an eternity” on the sidelines after the England midfielder finally returned to training yesterday.

Wilshere did not feature at all for the Gunners last season because of a niggling ankle problem which also ruled him out of contention for Euro 2012.

However, the 20-year-old has stepped up his rehabilitation, joining up with the first-team squad training session yesterday.

Wenger, though, will not rush Wilshere back into match action.

He said: “We are so pleased Jack is back in full training. It has been 14 months and that is a long time for someone at his age. It is an eternity, but it is great news.

“We have to give him a few training sessions to see how he copes and responds to it, that is the delicate, sensitive stage — to choose when to bring him in and out. We will have to handle that day-by-day.”

Combative midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong is also closing in on a return, having been sidelined by a serious knee injury suffered while on loan at Wolves in February.