Arsenal striker Carlos Vela is finally free from injury problems and is looking forward to this summer’s World Cup Finals to send a signal about how useful he can be for the Gunners.

Speaking to Arsenal TV Online, the Mexican explained that his season was one to forget as injury problems hampered his training sessions and fitness level, something which he never predicted last summer. Vela, however, added how he will not let all this damage his confidence as one can learn a lot even from bad moments.

Vela, 21, featured in yesterday’s friendly match at Wembley against England and had two clear goal opportunities but was twice denied by goalkeeper Robert Green in the first half.

On the just-ended season, he said:

To be honest, it’s not gone very well for me. Personally I felt that my season has been punctuated by my injury problems which have hampered my training and my fitness, all meaning that I haven’t played much and this is something I didn’t forsee happening.

But that’s football and I also think that you learn a lot during the bad times. This experience will help and I think I’ll become better for next season.

In reply to Arsene Wenger’s statement that lack of proper pre-season affected his season, hence making it difficult for him to find his form, the youngster said that he agrees, how spending a lot time on the sidelines indeed made it incredibly hard for him.

He said:

Yes, it’s been the main problem. When you’re struggling for fitness and have injury problems, as you can imagine you don’t play much and that’s important for your fitness as it becomes hard and your whole fitness suffers. As a result, I had to work very hard to overcome this.

On his new contract, signed last December and on the World Cup Finals, the Mexican concluded by saying that he is delighted with the faith manager Arsene Wenger is showing in him and will work very hard to use the World Cup Finals to show what he can do.

Vela said how such an important football competition will surely help his confidence and his experience as he will then be looking into using that for next season with the Gunners:

[On his new contract] I’m happy and it shows that Wenger is happy with me too. He’s got faith in what I can do and what I’ve shown and it’s good when the manager has such faith in you. My contract has tied me down for the next few years and I would like to repay this with a good year next season.

[The World Cup] is important. I haven’t played much, I’ve been injured a lot and of course this does affect your head and confidence. But, I think with the World Cup and playing regularly without any of these problems, I’ll gain experience and I’ll grow in experience and in confidence as well.