Jack is back. Well nearly.

Arsenal’s number 10 has been out since November with an ankle ligament injury sustained following a shocking challenge from Paddy McNair when Manchester United visited the Emirates. In the end it took an Instagram post from the midfielder himself to call out what a bad tackle it was.

Jack needed surgery to speed his recovery, but there is now light at the end of the tunnel.

Speaking to Arsenal.com, Arsene confirmed that the England midfielder is now back in contention.

He said:

“Jack is fine.”

The starlet has been back in training since before the Middlesbrough game but lacked competition. It will be interesting to see if that competition comes first in the U21 team or whether he is thrown straight back into the first team squad at the weekend with Ramsey still out and Oxlade-Chamberlain even more lacking in competition.

Jack has been in the news for all the wrong reasons recently. However, his return has come two weeks ahead of schedule, so whether or not you agree with the level of media scrutiny to which he has been subjected, his professionalism isn’t in question.

Again speaking to Arsenal.com, the manager lent his support to the under fire midfielder.

He said:

“He’s motivated and focused to come back as quickly as possible. He worked very hard but he has still been out for [more than two] months and what he needs now is to get back.

Competition gives you that sharpness that training cannot give you because it’s about a combination of fitness and decision-making – and speed of decision-making. It takes a while to get that back.”

Let’s hope he gets back to that level soon.

 

Jack hits back
Jack hits back