Arsène Wenger says that Jack Wilshere was initially a bit off the pace after coming back from his injury, but that now he’s getting stronger and closer to first team action.

With rumours that Wilshere may be set to feature against FC Köln on Thursday, the England midfielder was a hot topic in Arsène Wenger’s pre-match press conference.

Arsenal are 2/5 to pick up all three points with Freebets who provide the latest free bet no deposit offers. The Gunners boasting back-to-back home wins, while Koln have lost three of their last four games.

And while the Arsenal boss wouldn’t give a firm answer on Wilshere’s involvement in the game, he did give an update on how the 25-year-old is doing.

When asked about whether the Köln match was an opportunity for Wilshere to return, Wenger responded cryptically.

The Gunners manager also talked about the pressure Wilshere has had on him throughout his career to come back as soon as possible from injuries.

This pressure was largely driven by the weight of expectation on Wilshere’s shoulders after such a promising start to his career. This time around, the pressure is a bit less, since Arsenal have other options in central midfield.

In my opinion, the hopes of the club are no longer seen as being tied to Wilshere’s performances either. Of course, the other side of this argument is that the English international may feel like he has a point to prove.

As long as he can fuel that in a positive manner, it hopefully won’t be a problem, I believe.