Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger defends Jack Wilshere after smoking fiasco
Posted Monday, July 21, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk
ARSENE WENGER has leapt to the defence of under-fire Jack Wilshere.
STICK BY HIM: Wenger defends his midfielder Wilshere
Wenger claims the England midfielder is getting too much of a bad rap following his latest brush with controversy.
The Arsenal boss will hold talks with Wilshere this week after he was caught smoking again, this time during a holiday in Las Vegas.
But the Frenchman insists he has no real worries about the 22-year-old star.
Wilshere's second smoking incident in nine months came ahead of a potentially pivotal season for the midfielder.
He responded to the scandal by returning to pre-season training ahead of schedule on Thursday but sat out Arsenal's 2-0 friendly win at non-league Boreham Wood on Saturday.
Wenger said: "You make a case of Jack Wilshere, but I believe he's like any other player.
"He will face competition and if he's really fit then he has a good chance to play and it's exactly the same for everybody."
JACK THE LAD: Wilshere spotted smoking in Las Vegas
Wilshere endured a stop-start campaign last year due to injury and his boss is keen to have him fully up to speed for the new season.
That also applies to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who was another who missed large 
chunks of last season with knee and groin problems.
"Players like Oxlade-Chamberlain also have huge potential to be ready and fit," Wenger added.
"He got injured in the first game of last season and basically didn't appear any more.
"It's an important year for Chamberlain and an important year for Wilshere of course.
"I'm not too worried because they have the potential and the attitude and they have a good spirit despite what people say."
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