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Jack - The reason we're more dangerous

Jack Wilshere trains at Members' Day
Jack Wilshere trains at Members' Day

Jack Wilshere says Arsenal's ability to win the ball back quickly has made them a more dangerous side.

Arsene Wenger's team go into the 2015/16 campaign as genuine title contenders after a storming end to last season saw them win 19 of their final 26 matches in all competitions.

Arsenal have been at their free-flowing best for much of the year and Wilshere believes that the team's work off the ball has been critical to their improvement.

"I came back and I was happy with my form, I was a bit disappointed that the break came when it did"

Jack Wilshere

"We worked a lot on the first five seconds when we lose the ball," he told Arsenal.com. "If we can win the ball back in the opposition's half where, most of the time, when we win it we've got the players up front and the quality in midfield to find them… then we're always going to look dangerous.

"We didn't start the season well last year but the way we finished it… if we had played the whole season like that then we could have been champions. If we continue our form from the end of last season when we dominated games with our possession, and we won the ball back in better positions high up the pitch, then we've got a real chance.

"We want to win the league, of course we do. We feel we've been together a few years now, we've brought in world-class players who have had time to settle, we've added a world-class keeper with all of his experience, he's been there and he's done it, he's won everything. So we really feel we're in a strong position."

Wilshere himself went into the summer on a high after returning from injury and rediscovering his form towards the end of the season - a run that was crowned by a fine goal against West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium.

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"I was happy with my form at the end of last season, I think I needed it for my head, going into next season," he said. "I missed a lot of football and when you're on the sidelines watching the team do well, sometimes it's hard because you want to come back and play.

"I came back and I was happy with my form, I was a bit disappointed that the break came when it did. I only had three weeks off and then I was straight back into it so I'm really looking forward to the season.

"Having a full season on the pitch is the priority, and I think the best way to give yourself the best opportunity to do that is by getting a good pre-season in. It is a good base and it helps you start the season well."

 

Jack Wilshere