Arsenal vs Cologne: Jack Wilshere warned by Arsene Wenger to remain calm as he’s handed Europa League lifeline

ARSENE WENGER has told Jack Wilshere: Stay calm and you will carry on.

The Arsenal boss has thrown injury-prone midfielder Wilshere a lifeline by including him in the squad for tonight’s Europa League clash with Cologne.

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It will be his first competitive game since breaking a leg in April playing for Bournemouth against Spurs. And this will be his first Gunners appearance for 13 months.

Wilshere, who is likely to be on the bench tonight,  was handed a red card for Arsenal’s Under-23s last month after reacting to a late tackle from Manchester City’s Matt Smith.

Wenger said: “There was always a huge pressure on him to come back as quickly as possible and to expect a lot.

“If he can combine the two, keep calm and focus on the job, he is on a good way. If he is injury-free, he will come back to his best.

“In training, he is getting stronger. He has been injured at the start of the season so he was a bit behind the others.

“Every game is an opportunity for him and this season is a good opportunity. I didn’t talk to him at all after the red card because I was not at the game and I could understand his reaction.

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“He had been out so many times after suffering bad tackles and had just come back from a fracture.”

Arsenal’s previous appearance in this competition, when it was known as the Uefa Cup, was against Galatasaray in the 2000 final with the Turkish side winning 4-1 on penalties.

With one eye on Sunday’s trip to Chelsea, Wenger will rest Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny, Alexandre Lacazette, Danny Welbeck, Granit Xhaka, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey.

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Alexis Sanchez should make his first start of the season while Olivier Giroud will also be given the chance to score his 100th goal for Arsenal.

Giroud said: “It’s true that I was close to leaving the club but I wanted to stay as I thought the story was not over.”

 ARSENAL (likely): Ospina, Holding, Mertesacker, Monreal;  Bellerin, Elneny, Iwobi, Kolasinac;  Sanchez, Walcott, Giroud.