Jack Wilshere
Being injured, coming back, playing a few games, trying to get your fitness back, getting injured again - you don't get a chance to prove what you can do.Collection: Fitness
The intensity of the Premier League is incredible. The levels of fitness you have to reach just to survive in it is absurd.Collection: Fitness
Loyalty is a big part of football, and it shows if you are a real man or not.
If you don't believe in yourself, then who is going to believe in you?
My kids, since birth, have been dairy- and gluten-free.
I know my body well. I know the right foods to eat.
I know the best way to recover and get the right amount of sleep.
I've always loved representing my country, and it's something I've missed.
I want to go to the World Cup and enjoy it.
When you are injured - and injured for a while - it is hard. You have to go to the training ground and watch everyone go out to play.
As a player, if your attitude is questioned, it's horrible.
Nothing goes through your head when you're playing except who you are playing against and what you can do to affect the game.
If I'm on the bench in a Premier League game, I'm thinking, 'What can I do coming off the bench?'
Once I'm at the training ground, I'm focused, preparing for the next game.
With Arsenal, I've been playing out wide, which is not me.
I like to play anywhere in the middle.
Lionel Messi is on a different planet to anyone.
Sometimes it's been difficult to stay positive, especially after the injuries that I've had, which have been frustrating.
If you look at the top midfielders in the past for England, like Lampard, Gerrard, and Scholes, they were always on the scoresheet.
Sometimes when people play for their country, I think there is that little bit of fear and pressure.
Sometimes you have to shield, and sometimes you have to press.
I definitely wouldn't go somewhere just because I'm a homegrown player. I'd want to be wanted by a club.
I want to be wanted by Arsenal. I've grown up at Arsenal. I'm a homegrown player, and as long as Arsenal want me, then I'm happy.
Look at the best dribblers in the world, Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, and the ball seems to stick to their foot, so I can work on that when I am dribbling.
It doesn't 'hurt' me, hearing criticism from ex-players. It probably disappoints me a little bit more.
I'll take criticism. I know that's part and parcel of football. But when it's just reckless and aggressive, I don't listen.
Now I've learned to enjoy my football while I can. Every time I'm on the pitch, I just enjoy it.
I realise things aren't going to go my way every week. Of course they're not. But the main thing is to give your all and enjoy.
I have had bad luck with injuries, but I can't keep saying I've been injured a lot.
It's every kid's dream to represent their country at a World Cup.
I'm not really a defensive midfielder.
I'd say I was an attacking midfielder, and if you are going to be one of the best, you have to score goals and create them.
I think every manager is the same. Three days before the Premier League starts, every manager is selfish that way. They want the players fit and ready.
The only people who should play for England are English people.
If you've lived in England for five years, for me, it doesn't make you English.
If I went to Spain and lived there for five years, I'm not going to play for Spain. For me an English player should play for England, really.
I'm not just a footballer; I'm a top athlete, and we have to be at the top of our game.
Teams want the best players. If the best players come through your academy, you can play.
Players and people make mistakes.
Football never stops, and that's why you need a big squad.
It's impossible for one player to play the whole year. I've learnt that myself, and you're always bound to get injuries.
It's good to be around an English manager.
It's a pleasure to play for England, and I will never say no.
To spend 17 months on the sidelines is tough for anyone, and it's hard to see everyone go out training and then to go and watch games at the Emirates Stadium.
I don't think one player can ever win a World Cup.
Of course there's going to be expectations when you're playing well in the national team. But you just have to deal with that.
I prefer playing in a 4-3-3.
It's a dream to play for England, so if I'm selected, I'd look forward to playing. But it's down to the powers above me.
When you go to the training ground day after day, there's times when you don't want to do it, especially when you see all the boys go out to training.
The aim every season is to challenge for the top four and try to win a trophy.