Wenger victory: Wilshere left out of Under 21 squad

Arsene Wenger has finally won something! Unfortunately for Gunners fans it's not silverware but rather his battle with England Under 21 coach Stuart Pearce to have Jack Wilshere rested from next month's Uefa European Under-21s Championship in Denmark.

When Wilshere was named last week in Pearce's provisional 40-man squad, Wenger couldn't hide his dismay, saying: "I accept and respect the choice even if I think it is the wrong decision... He has played nearly 50 games this year and for me it is a massive risk."

The Frenchman added that were the 19-year-old midfielder to play he would be rested for the first few weeks of next season because "I have not seen a player who has a long season and goes to a big tournament and afterwards in August or September is in good shape."

Wilshere himself had said a few weeks ago that he was keen to play in the tournament but that was before Arsenal's miserable end to the season, and before the views of Wenger were known.

Said Stuart Pearce on Monday: "I spoke to Jack last week and he explained that while he told me in March that he wanted to be part of the squad, he now feels he is not in the best condition to take part in the finals."

Pearce admitted he was saddened by Wilshere's change of heart but that he understood how he had reached his decision. "[It] is based on the number of games he has played for Arsenal this season, sports science data which Jack was presented with last week and concerns he has for his fitness looking ahead to next season," said Pearce, adding: "While I am disappointed not to have him with us for the finals I've accepted the situation."

And on the question of whether there would have been any benefit to Wilshere – a full England international – of playing in an Under 21 tournament Pearce replied: "I believe that representing your country in international development tournaments can be a great advantage to players, and increases the chances of being successful at senior level."

As well as Wilshere the other big name missing from Pearce's squad is Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, who was omitted because of a long-running thigh injury. However, a quartet of senior internationals were named in the squad: Manchester City's Micah Richards, Kieran Gibbs of Arsenal, Manchester United's Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson of Sunderland. They will be part of a squad that begin the tournament with a tough fixture against Spain in June 12 before taking on the Ukraine and the Czech Republic.

As for Wilshere, his season isn't quite finished as he has been named in Fabio Capello's senior England squad to play Switzerland at Wembley on June 4, a vital match in the Three Lions bid to qualify for next season's European Championships. ·