Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that he decided not to hand Jack Wilshere his competitive return from the bench against Norwich City because the match was too intense.
Wilshere joined the first-team squad after 14 months out injured, with Wenger naming the England midfielder as a substitute for the trip to Carrow Road.
Wenger insisted that he made the right decision not to introduce Wilshere late on despite Arsenal slipping to their second defeat of the season.
He told the club's official website: "We have to be conscious he has not played for 14 months.
"I would have brought him on if the game had allowed it today but it was too intense.
"He will play on Monday with the Reserves and then we will see where we go from there. He needs to play games."
Wenger also confirmed that Wilshere will start for the club's Under-21 side in a match against Everton on Monday to make his third consecutive appearance for the second string.
Liam Power
