Arsenal star Wilshere working towards full fitness

The midfielder is hoping to complete a full pre-season ahead of his side's Champions League qualifiers, having missed preparations for the previous two campaigns due to injury

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is eager to complete a full pre-season in a bid to return to full fitness ahead of the 2013-14 campaign.

The Arsenal midfielder has missed the club's previous two pre-seasons but recognises the importance of playing in friendlies having suffered a number of injury setbacks.

"Sometimes we forget [when we're on tour] that we are still in pre-season and no one likes pre-season, especially in this heat, but we just have to get on with it, we have a big season coming up and we need to get our fitness levels up," he told the club's official website.

"We also have Champions League qualifiers just around the corner and we know what we have to do. It is tough, and this weather doesn't help, but you need to roll your sleeves up and get on with it.

"The last two years I have missed pre-season so to get one under my belt now will be really helpful. I played 25 minutes against Vietnam, so the next step will be to play 45 minutes and go on from there."

The 21-year-old is confident manager Arsene Wenger will give him the best chance of being fully fit ahead of the Premier League opener against Aston Villa.

He added: "I am feeling good and it is just down to getting the games under my belt and I'm sure the boss will give me them."

Arsenal's bring their tour of Asia to an end with fixtures against Nagoya Grampus and Urawa Red Diamonds, before taking part in the Emirates Cup.