Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says midfielder Jack Wilshere will have to work hard to secure a regular place in his line-up.
The Englishman suffered an ankle injury in Arsenal's 2-1 home defeat against Manchester United in November but played the full 90 minutes for the Under-21s against Stoke City on Tuesday.
"Everybody can have a big impact until the end of the season, Jack [Wilshere] included," Wenger said.
"That [making a return in the starting eleven] depends on the game, on fitness, on availability and the need of the team.
"Everybody is rated exactly the same and you respect everybody and want everybody to just contribute to the team.
"Every player who doesn't play is very frustrated when he can not perform.
"[Abou] Diaby has been out for a year, [Theo] Walcott has been out for a year. That's difficult cases and Wilshere has played games this year.
"He has played many games. He was out, but not for as long as Walcott or Diaby."
