Playing with Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky will help us a lot, says Arsenal U21 captain Julio Pleguezuelo

Comeback trail: Wilshere in training with Arsenal once more
(David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
James Benge7 April 2016

Arsenal Under-21 captain Julio Pleguezuelo is eager to learn from Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky when the first-teamers join his side for Friday’s match with Newcastle.

Wilshere and Rosicky, who between them have managed a combined seven minutes of competitive football this season, will step up their recoveries from long-term injuries with appearances in the U21 match on Friday.

It will be the first time Wilshere, absent for nine months with a broken fibula, has appeared at the Emirates since a pre-season victory over VfL Wolfsburg and will represent a crucial point in his bid to prove his fitness to both Arsene Wenger and England manager Roy Hodgson, who has said he will name the midfielder in his squad for Euro 2016 if he can prove his match fitness.

The 24-year-old is likely to also appear in at least one of the U21’s away games against Derby and Swansea next week if he comes through Friday’s match with no injury complaints and Pleguezuelo is confident that Arsenal’s young guns can gain from playing alongside both Wilshere and Rosicky.

“It is always good to play with first-team players too, because they are at that first-team level and they will help us a lot,” the Spanish defender told the club website. “It is always good to keep learning. It is more of a reason to enjoy the game.

“Playing alongside them is always very good, and if I’m going to be a captain, I need to help them as much as I can and I’m sure they will do the same thing for me.

“Jack is a great player on the ball. The vision he has on the pitch is amazing. Rosicky and him have the experience from a first-team level and it will help our position. They will know what to do with the ball and it will help us a lot offensively.”

Arsene Wenger's young guns

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The U21 side are playing just their second home game of the season at the Emirates and their first since defeating West Ham 5-0 at the stadium in early August.

Tickets for the match are still available, priced at £4 for adults and £2 for concessions (over 65s and under 16s).

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