Jack Wilshere has called on Arsenal's players to stem the criticism being levelled at Arsène Wenger by taking responsibilty for the club's slump. "People are criticising the manager at the moment, but there will be a time when they look at the players and ask questions of us. We don't want that, so we have to step up and be counted," he said.
Wilshere's comments were accompanied by good news for Arsenal supporters, with the midfielder announcing that he is ready to sign a new contract. "I am talking to the club and I probably will be committing my future to the club in the next couple of weeks," said the player.
Arsenal travel to the Madejski Stadium on Monday night, desperate to put their humiliating Capital One Cup defeat at Bradford behind them, and acutely aware of the pressure they are under to improve on a dismal run. They have won only two of their past seven matches, a sequence that includes three defeats.
Wilshere believes it is vital Arsenal do not panic. "We have to remember our strengths. I think technically we are probably the best team out there," he said. "We have to get the result, that's the main thing. We know it won't be easy, especially having just lost at Bradford. Reading are desperate for a win too, down the bottom of the league. So we need to roll our sleeves up, get stuck in and do what we are good at – keeping the ball. When we create chances we know we have to take them."
Wilshere's performances have been conspicuous as he does not appear to be suffering from the lack of confidence afflicting his team-mates. The 20-year-old has shown the gumption to take responsibility and lead by determined example. After his 17-month absence through injury, the England midfielder possesses character, which is needed in times of adversity. "We have got some great leaders in this team – people like Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta. But all the players can lead by example," he said. "We all have to step up now, it's a tough time but we have to stick together and be united."
A return to Reading takes Arsenal back to the scene of a match in which they demonstrated a memorable ability to rouse themselves from a desperate situation. In the Capital One Cup in October, Reading took a 4-0 lead, only for Arsenal to respond to emerge 7-5 victors. Wilshere watched wide?eyed that evening as he continued his recovery.
"It was very hard watching that first half," he recalled. "First of all because I really wanted to play in it. It was just a few days after my first game back, against QPR, so the manager rested me. I was watching it with my mate and at 4-1 I said: 'Listen, we could do this.' He laughed at me but I said: 'You watch, we can win this'.
"To be fair, we showed great character in the end. The youngsters all did really well – I think Thomas Eisfeld changed the game when he came on, he was brilliant. As was Olivier Giroud."
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