Arsenal: Jack Wilshere blames profligacy in front of goal for season failure

Jack Wilshere has revealed that Arsenal have to be more clinical in front of goal if they have to win the title next season. The north London club were on top of the table in January but fell away as the season progressed and are currently fighting for a place in the top three.

Wilshere himself was absent for a majority of the season with a broken fibula and only returned for the final few games, but should be available for participation in the European Championships with England later this year. The 24-year-old came on as a first half substitute against Manchester City to replace the injured Danny Welbeck, who has undergone an operation on his knee and will be unavailable for up to nine months for damage to his knee cartilage.

Wilshere believes this season was different from the others as earlier they used to struggle against the big teams and were able to put away the lower teams with consummate ease. This time around, they are unbeaten against teams in the top four but have failed to seize the initiative against the likes of Swansea, who have beaten them at home.

"I was obviously watching as a fan for most of the year so it was tough to watch," Wilshere told Arsenal's official website. "I think of the games that didn't go our way like Swansea at home.

"We used to struggle against the big teams, but this year we were alright. In games [like the Swansea one] we start quickly in the first 20 minutes and have chances but we need to make them count. There are a lot of chances we create with the likes of Ozil, Alexis and Welbeck, we just have to be a bit more clinical.

"I think [we are moving in the right direction]. We put up a big challenge this year, and OK it didn't work out, but after we beat Leicester at home we thought this was our year and we have to push on. Unfortunately we didn't, but we put up more of a fight than previous years."