Wilshere return could hinder progress for Rosicky-inspired Arsenal

ANALYSISBy Ewan RobertsWhen Jack Wilshere exited the Emirates Stadium pitch on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal – victorious in all four of the matches the 21-year-old had missed through injury – were trailing 1-0 to Norwich City, a side who travelled to north London bereft of form and short on confidence.Yet Chris Hughton's hapless side, without a win in five games, had the lead. The young midfielder, unsurprisingly poor and off the pace following his injury lay-off, looked on from the sidelines and witnessed his team-mates mount an unlikely late comeback to pick up precious points in the race for Champions League football.Arsenal were not playing badly while he was on the pitch, with the Canaries mustering just one shot during his 59-minute appearance (though it resulted in a goal), nor did they suddenly spark into life when he departed, but they lacked some of the intensity and directness so ever-present while he was prone on the treatment table.BEMUSING TRIANGLEROSICKY v WILSHEREPLAYING BEHIND GIROUD8Passes michael kors Outlet to/from Giroud441%Passes finding team-mates in final third32%74Minutes per shot on target39275%Shots on target57% Playing in an advanced, attacking role, Wilshere had just one (off-target) effort on goal, attempted one through-ball, completed zero successful dribbles and made no key passes. He dropped deep in search of the ball and rarely offered support to lone striker Olivier Giroud.He also carried the ball into the final third fewer times than deep-lying midfield anchors Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey, while his percentage of passes in the final third (35 per cent) was bettered by the Welshman (37%) and dwarfed by Santi Cazorla (62%) – while all three substitutes were more involved in the attacking third too.While Wilshere was on the field, Arsenal had possession but, barring a few overlapping runs down the right flank by Bacary Sagna, not penetration. That has often been the case this season - until, that is, the Gunners had to make do without the England international.There has been more directness about Arsenal in Wilshere's absence. Against West Brom, for example, the joint-highest pass combination on the pitch was between Lukasz Fabianski and Giroud (the goalkeeper successfully sought the French striker 14 times). Long-ball, route-one football may be anti-Arsenal but it produced a 2-1 win, despite Per Mertesacker's red card.There was a greater willingness to hit Giroud early because of the support provided to him by Tomas Rosicky. The Czech Republic international, nicknamed "Little Mozart", is a truer No.10 than Wilshere and it shows.Rosicky played between the lines, looked to run in behind the defence and offered support to Giroud - the Frenchman has previously been forced deep, devoid of someone to feed him, further congesting the midfield Rosicky struck twice at the Hawthorns, the first a flicked header from six yards and the second a powerful half-volley after his initial effort had been saved. Throughout the match he played between the lines, looked to run in behind the defence and offered support to Giroud – the Frenchman has previously been forced deep, devoid of someone to feed him, further congesting the midfield.Wilshere and Giroud combined just four times against Norwich but the striker's combination with Rosicky saw them find each other twice as often against the Baggies. Additionally, with the Czech breaking into the box, running beyond Giroud and playing far higher up the pitch, he was able to create space for Cazorla rather than contest it.Giroud has prospered as a result, notching three goals and an assist in his last five games, all sans Wilshere. He also, somewhat fortuitously, won the controversial penalty against Norwich. ARSENAL LATEST11/4Tomas Rosicky is 11/4 with Paddy Power to be the first goalscorer in Arsenal v EvertonOf the 1184 total passes that Wilshere has attempted in the league, 32% have found a team-mate in the final third. For Rosicky, that figure is 41% and rises to almost 50% when solely measuring attempted passes in the final third.With Cazorla drifting infield off the flank and Arteta cautiously recycling possession at the base of midfield, Arsenal do not need Wilshere dropping deep too. They have more than enough players capable of tightening the noose around an opponent's neck but often lack a ruthless, final-third executioner to kick away the chair from beneath them.It is in this respect that Rosicky has most shown his worth, firing a shot on target every 74 minutes compared to 392 minutes for Wilshere, and boasting 75% shooting accuracy to the youngster's 57%. His figures last year were impressive, too, shooting every 88 minutes compared to 224 minutes for Wilshere (this season) and creating nine clear-cut chances to the England man's three.A slight worry for Arsenal is that, since mid-November, Cazorla's strikes have come against sides with an average league position of 16th – Reading, West Ham, Sunderland and Aston Villa – while Wilshere has not netted a Premier League goal since November 2010. Rosicky, however, offers a different and much-needed form of attack.Arsenal's offensive shift sans Wilshere also coincided with a defensive reshuffle that has louis vuitton Outlet undoubtedly helped the Gunners. Sagna has returned to the side, replacing the often naive Carl Jenkinson, error-prone Thomas Vermaelen was dropped from the team (no outfield player in the Premier League has committed more than his six errors) and, perhaps most importantly, Fabianski was selected between the sticks.The new back line laid down a marker at the Allianz Arena, becoming the only side to prevent Bayern Munich from scoring at home, and have since conceded just 0.75 goals per game in the league (compared to 1.16 with Wojciech Szczesny in goal and 1.28 with Vermaelen on the pitch).Arsenal did not merely survive while Wilshere was absent, they prospered. Rosicky's bravery on the ball, his willingness to attack the box, sits in stark contrast to the Englishman's more cautious, methodical approach. Arsene Wenger must seek to find a way to incorporate his young gem without sacrificing the drive and final-third threat that was born out of his absence and kept the Gunners in the top-four michael kors Outlet online race.Follow Ewan Roberts on

Wilshere & Walcott set for Arsenal return against Norwich City

Arsenal duo Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott are both expected to return from injury against Norwich City on Saturday, Arsene Wenger has confirmed."Jack has joined normal training since Wednesday and Theo should join in tomorrow. They are 90 per cent available for Saturday," Wenger told the club's official website. ARSENAL LATEST7/4Theo Walcott to start, score and Arsenal to beat Norwich is 7/4 with William HillWilshere has been out of action for just under six weeks since aggravating an ankle injury during the north London derby defeat at the beginning of March, and it had been feared that he could be out for the rest of the season.However, as michael kors Outlet Goal.com recently revealed, the 21-year-old has been undergoing a special rehabilitation programme at the club's new medical centre in Colney, and is now ahead of schedule to return to the first team.Walcott has been sidelined since injuring his hip whilst away on duty with England last month, but is now louis vuitton Outlet ready to be involved alongside his fellow international for Norwich's visit to the Emirates. There is less positive news concerning the fitness of Tomas Rosicky, who scored both goals in last weekend's victory over West Brom, with the club confirming he is expected to miss out. "The other uncertainty we have from last Saturday is Tomas Rosicky, who has a little michael kors canada Outlet hamstring irritation," Wenger continued."His involvement is yet to be decided as well but it's fair to say that he is a big doubt for Saturday."

Sir Alex Ferguson's goodbye speech in full

Sir Alex Ferguson said an emotional goodbye to Old Trafford after Manchester United's 2-1 win against Swansea on Sunday, thanking the fans for their support and imploring them to get behind successor David Moyes.The record-breaking manager also said he will now be able to enjoy United games rather than "suffer with them", thanking fans, players and staff for their help.With Paul Scholes also retiring from the club for a second time, Sir Alex praised the midfielder as one of the best players the club has ever had, and wished Darren Fletcher a speedy return to first-team football."I have absolutely no script in my mind. I'm just going to ramble on and hope I get to the core of what this football club means," Sir Alex said."This is michael kors Outlet online a thank you to Manchester United. Not just the directors, not just the medical staff, the coaching staff, the players and supporters. It's all of you. This has been the most fantastic experience of my life. Thank you."I have been very fortunate that I've been able Louis Vuitton Outlet to manage to some of the greatest players in the country, let alone Manchester United. And all these players today have represented this club the proper way. They won the championship in fantastic fashion. Well done to the players."My retirement does mean the end of my life with the club. I'll now be able to enjoy watching michael kors Outlet them, rather than suffer with them. But, if you think about it, those last-minute goals, the comebacks, even the defeats are all part of this great football club of ours ... so thank you for that."I'd also like to remind you that when we had bad times at the club, all the staff stood by me, all the players stood by me. Your [the supporters] job now is to stand by your new manager."Before I start blubbing, I just want to speak to Paul Scholes, who retires today. He is unbelievable. One of the greatest players we've ever had and ever will ever."I also want to wish Darren Fletcher a speedy recovery and return to the club."I wish the players every success in the future You know how good you are, you know the jersey you're wearing and you know what it means to everyone here michael kors bag Outlet online [at Old Trafford]. Don't ever let yourselves down. The expectation is always there."

Sir Alex Ferguson We'll honour top-four battle

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says his side will not lie down against Chelsea in their game at Old Trafford, with the Blues still chasing a place in the top four.Chelsea's visit to Manchester comes off the back of Thursday's 5-2 aggregate victory over Basel, while United have not played since the 1-1 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. MANCHESTER UNITED LATEST11/1Manchester United Louis Vuitton Outlet are 11/1 with Bet365 to draw 2-2 against Chelsea on SundayThe 71-year-old inisists that his side won't let up after being crowned Champions on April 22, however, and expects his side to perform well against tough opposition."We'll field a strong team because Chelsea are chasing a Champions League place," Sir Alex told reporters. "It should be a good game as we should play with enthusiasm and enjoyment."The manager also reiterated that he has been planning next season's squad improvements for some time. Along with Wilfried Zaha, who the club signed in January michael kors 2013 Outlet before loaning him back to Crystal Palace, Sir Alex expects "one or two" new players but expects youngsters already at the club to kick on."We've been [planning for next season] for a while," he added. "Your scouting goes on for the full season, actually sometimes two seasons when you maybe monitor a younger player. "You want to see how he does the next season. That is the process we go through. "We've got some ideas where we’re going and hopefully we can conclude them. We'll look at one or two bodies to come in. "You've got to remember there are a lot of young players we expect michael kors bag Outlet online to improve and take that into consideration. And you have to consider ages of players and protect that part. In the main, we know where we are. We're comfortable."We have fantastic strength in depth. That's the area where we don't want to confuse ourselves because you end up with too many players and trying to keep them all happy. It's happened a few times this season michael kors canada Outlet."