JACK WILSHERE will turn down the chance to play for Team GB at the Olympics — to get fit with Arsenal.
Great Britain manager Stuart Pearce insists he would be prepared to pick the midfield ace for London 2012 against Arsene Wenger’s wishes.
Yet Wilshere, who has not played this season due to an ankle problem, has confirmed to Gunners boss Wenger his priority is his club side and that breaking off for a tournament would be a bad idea.
Wilshere was desperate to play for England at Euro 2012 but was also keen to star for GB at the Olympics.
Although he has been ruled out of Euro 2012, he would be fit in time to play for Pearce’s Olympic team.
Instead, he will continue his rehabilitation in the summer at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground before starring in the Gunners’ pre-season friendlies in late July and early August.
He will play games in Malaysia, China and Hong Kong before the North London outfit’s friendly against a team in Nigeria.
Wilshere’s decision will be a blow for Pearce, who had him on his shortlist.
The men’s team have been drawn in Group A at the Olympics alongside Senegal, UAE and Uruguay.
Although Wilshere, 20, was “gutted” at failing to be fit for Arsenal’s remaining games of the season, he is making good progress and is certain to be fit for the tour of the Far East and Africa.
Wenger will also stage a final warm-up match in Germany the week before the Premier League season begins.
The Arsenal chief had already slammed the Olympic tournament as “phoney” and does not want any of his first-team players involved — and that includes Wilshere and Welshman Aaron Ramsey.
Wenger and Pearce were also at loggerheads last summer when Psycho wanted Wilshere in the England Under-21 squad for the Euro2011 finals in Denmark.
But despite the absence of Wilshere, Pearce still has another 79 players on a list which will be whittled down to a final 18-man squad.
LA Galaxy and former England star David Beckham looks certain to be involved.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are preparing for Saturday’s trip to Stoke as they look to clinch third spot.
And goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny insists his team will be ready to win silverware next term — even though it is now seven years since the club won a trophy.
Szczesny said: “When you play for this club, you want to win trophies. This club deserves that and we didn’t get any this year so it’s always disappointing.
“We have the quality to fight for trophies in Europe and this country. It’s just consistency that’s been a problem for us this season.
“Hopefully we’ve got the experience to win trophies next year.”
Originally Posted by Syn
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