And Arsenal will need to find the net against Sunderland as they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 game – they’ve also failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 10 games that have followed Champions League excursions.
If Arsenal are to win, they are 4/6 to do so, then it’s likely that there will be three or more goals in the match and over 2.5 goals is available at 8/11.
Arsene Wenger has no fresh injury worries to contend with after Wednesday’s clash with Braga but could recall Tomas Rosicky and Keiron Gibbs as Arsenal look to register just their third victory in ten North East visits.
Last season Sunderland only lost three times at home to Aston Villa, Chelsea and Manchester United, beating Arsenal 1-0, and the Mackems fans have yet to see their side defeated this season at the Stadium of Light.
Steve Bruce will be without talismanic midfielder Lee Cattermole after his second red card this season and John Mensah is a doubt for the game.
Asamoah Gyan will start up-front with Darren Bent likely to be shifted to the wing in a 4-5-1 formation.
With Arsenal’s poor defensive record after Champions League games, Bent and Gyan will be looking to get on the score sheet and they are 7/4 and 9/4 respectively to score anytime.
Despite the plaudits surrounding their win last Wednesday, Arsenal could come unstuck and Sunderland to win 1-0 is 9/1.
Wilshere insists the Spaniard is the best midfielder in the world and is the perfect team mate to learn from.
“Playing in the Champions League is an experience that a player of 33 may not have had in his whole career,” said Wilshere.
“So at 18 it is a bonus and to play with people like Cesc and Alex Song makes it easy for you.
“Watching Cesc when I was younger was the perfect opportunity to learn from him. He does take you to one side. Around the training ground he is helpful and when he is on the pitch he is telling me things to do.
“He tells me I am not going to play every week, like he did, and that have I got to break through slowly.
“He is the best player in the world in his position. That shows with all the interest from the clubs who want him. That is what I want to be like. I think he looks at it that we have a bond as well because he did the same as me.”
It has already been a dramatic season for Wilshere. Starting regularly, including the opener at Liverpool, making his England debut at Wembley and also being dropped by England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce who accused him of “taking his eye off the ball.”
That came after Wilshere was arrested following a late night fracas when he was out with friends in London after arsenal had won at Blackburn.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger defended his player as the peacemaker but also warned him of the dangers of being a young star with hangers-on. Wilshere is determined to take the lessons on board.
Wenger loaned the teenager to Bolton last season. “I had to go out on loan last year because there are world-class players at arsenal and I had to get some games,” said Wilshere.
“I came back more experienced and stronger and if you play regularly it makes it obviously makes it easier for you.”
Another step up was rubbing shoulders with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney in the England dressing room.
Wilshere said: “It was brilliant, a nice experience, and hopefully I can get some more games but at the moment I was ill the night before the England game so hopefully I’ll get some more playing time in the future We will see what happens.
“I just had to pinch myself sitting in the changing room next to Rooney and Gerrard
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