I want to prove you wrong this season, Arsenal star warns critics

Arsenal star Jack Wilshere has revealed criticism he has received over the last year is inspiring him to make a huge impact at the Emirates this season.

England midfielder Wilshere has struggled for form following a string of injury problems at the Emirates and ex-Man United star Paul Scholes claimed he had not developed since the age of 17.

The duo have since held a clear-the-air conversation, but now the 22-year-old wants to do his talking on the football pitch for the Gunners after returning to pre-season training early.

Wilshere said: "It [criticism] does motivate me to try harder in training and not just in training; it motivates me to improve because a lot of people have started to talk [about me] - people who don't know me but want to have an opinion. Now it is down to me.

"This is a big season for me. I came back early to pre-season to show people my commitment. I am fully committed to the club and to my job and I want to show everyone that.

"Over the past few seasons I've had a few injuries. This season I'm looking to have a really great pre-season and get a really good base of fitness and take that into the season."

Transfer rumours and paper review – Sunday, July 27

Here's the top transfer-related stories in Sunday's newspapers...

West Ham have made a bid to sign Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, 33, who was released by Chelsea at the end of last season. (Sun on Sunday)

Inter Milan are considering offering Colombia midfielder Fredy Guarin, 28, to Manchester United in a swap deal for 26-year-old Mexico striker Javier Hernandez. (Daily Star Sunday)

Sunderland will consider taking Fabio Borini on a season's loan as the Liverpool striker, 23, stalls over making a permanent move away from Anfield. (Sunday Express)

Atletico Madrid have reached a £24m deal to sign France winger Antoine Griezmann, 23, from Real Sociedad. (AS)

Real Madrid are lining up a £10m loan move for Monaco's Colombia striker Radamel Falcao, 28, with a view to a £26m permanent move in 2015. (AS)

Stoke City's bid to sign Oussama Assaidi, 25, from Liverpool for £7m is in danger of collapse over the winger's wage demands. (Daily Express)

Lille striker Divock Origi, 19, is set to complete a £12.5m move to Liverpool in the next few days after choosing the Reds ahead of Arsenal, Tottenham and Atletico Madrid. (Sunday Mirror)

Manager Harry Redknapp has told QPR chairman Tony Fernandes to sign him some new strikers, with Watford's Troy Deeney, 26, on his wishlist. (Mail on Sunday)

Hull City face competition for the signature of Carl Jenkinson from three other Premier League clubs - West Ham, Swansea, and Sunderland. (Metro)

Van Gaal: Possession is key

Louis van Gaal hit out at his players for almost allowing Roma to break his 100 per cent record as Manchester United manager. Van Gaal made it two wins from two as United boss thanks to a 3-2 win over the Italian giants in the Colorado heat.

Unlike in their 7-0 thrashing of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Van Gaal's men were slow off the mark and Roma wasted numerous opportunities to go ahead. Wayne Rooney scored twice and Juan Mata also got on the score sheet with a stunning goal, but Roma fought back in the second half with two strikes - the first of which came from 60 yards.

Van Gaal was annoyed with the way his team failed to close the game out after going 3-0 up, but he thinks the fact that the game took place in 30 degree heat, some 5280 feet above sea level, did not help his players. "I think we don't play a good match," Van Gaal said. "All my good passers failed today. I think it was because of the height and the air.

"Mata, (Ander) Herrera and (Shinji) Kagawa these are the best passers (at the club), and everything went wrong. In the second half we forgot to keep the ball. When you are 3-0 ahead the only thing you have to do is keep the ball in possession and the opponent has to run and run and run. We forgot to do that. We brought Roma by ourselves back into the match so I am pleased we have won, but it was not good."

Rooney collected the ball from Mata and curled a stunning shot over Lukasz Skorupski from 25 yards to put United ahead. The England striker then returned the favour, firing a 45-yard ball over the Roma defence to Mata, who killed the ball with his first touch before superbly lifting it over Skorupski.

A clumsy foul by Mehdi Benatia on Danny Welbeck allowed Rooney to add his second from the penalty spot. Van Gaal was reluctant to single anyone out for praise, but he could not hide his admiration for Rooney's performance. "The pass of Rooney to Mata was unbelievable," said Van Gaal, who withdrew the England striker, along with eight others at half-time.

Van Gaal was not so happy with Amos for letting in Pjanic's 60-yard shot. Pjanic spotted Amos well off his line in the second half and punted a looping shot over the 24-year-old goalkeeper. When asked whether he regarded the goal as a wonder strike by Pjanic or an error on the part of his substitute, Van Gaal said with a smile: "What do you think? I am nearly 63. When the ball is flying in the air for four seconds, I think I run 50 metres."

Roma coach Rudi Garcia was stunned by the 60-yard effort. "It was a world-class goal," he said. "I am sure we will see it throughout (the) world. He probably had a training session yesterday with the Denver Broncos."

Van Gaal, meanwhile, played down suggestions that he does not see Wilfried Zaha as part of his first-team plans. Zaha is the only player in Van Gaal's 26-man squad not to feature in this tour of the USA. But the former Netherlands boss says he has no issues with the forward, who was loaned to Cardiff last January, just six months after joining United from Crystal Palace in a £15m transfer.

"I have a lot of players in (his) position," Van Gaal added. "Our squad is not balanced. "Maybe Zaha will be picked because he is working good and hard, and is doing all I require and demand. There is no problem (with him)."

Van Gaal and his squad fly to Washington DC on Sunday ahead of their next match in the International Champions Cup against Inter Milan, which takes place on Tuesday.

Arsenal seal Ospina signing

Arsenal have announced the signing of Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina from Nice on a long-term contract. The 25-year-old, who impressed as Colombia reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, has moved to the Emirates Stadium for an undisclosed fee.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger told Arsenal's official website: "David Ospina is an excellent goalkeeper, with good experience and a proven record of performing with Nice and Colombia. He will add strength to our squad and we are very pleased that he will be joining us."

The keeper is expected to make his first appearance for Arsenal during the Emirates Cup friendly tournament, which takes place in north London next weekend. Ospina made 189 Ligue 1 appearances over six years with Nice having joined the south coast club from Colombian club Atletico Nacional in 2008.

He made his senior debut for Atletico aged just 17 and has been a full Colombia international since 2007, making his first start for Los Cafeteros in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Bolivia. At Arsenal he will provide competition for first-choice keeper Wojciech Szczesny while helping to fill the gap left by the departed Lukasz Fabianski, who has joined Swansea.

Nice coach Claude Puel on Saturday night confirmed Ospina's move to London had been ratified and told Gunners fans they could expect some "quality" displays from the new signing. Speaking to Sky Sports News after Nice's friendly defeat to Brentford, Puel said: "It's confirmed, yes.

"It's a good affair for Arsenal because he's a very good player. You will see next season the quality of this player. It's fantastic for him. It's important for him to try another league, another club and Arsenal is a fantastic club for him.

"David Ospina can take the goalkeeping position at Arsenal because his qualities are very strong and... 'magnifique'. You saw in the World Cup how important a goalkeeper he is. For me, David can impose his quality, he's a goalkeeper who is very good with the feet, with his arms, he knows football and he's a very, very good player."