Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere was delighted to be back on the pitch after a lengthy absence from an injury.

The 24-year-old made his first appearance for Arsenal since the 2015 FA Cup final when he came off the bench in the goalless draw against Sunderland on Saturday.

"It's the best feeling," he told Arsenal Player.

"All those late nights and long days in the gym, this is when it really pays off.

"You can do all the training, you can play for the under-21s to build your fitness up, but what really matters is playing for the first team and getting back on the pitch, so I'm really happy.

"I felt good. In my first under-21s game, I didn't really feel that great. In the second I felt better and in the third I felt as though I was able to get through 90 minutes and have an impact on the game.

"I spoke with the boss in the week, he felt the same and I travelled to Sunderland. It's a big week for me in training, getting fitter and sharper. Hopefully, next weekend I can get some more game time and go from there.

"I'm not saying that I'm there yet, this is just another step on my way to full recovery. There's a few games left and after that, hopefully I'll go away with England to the Euros. It's an exciting time."