Arsenal injury news: Jack Wilshere faces three months out after third surgery in 12 months

Arsenal have confirmed midfielder Jack Wilshere will be ruled out until at least Christmas due to surgery on his left fibula. Wilshere, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his short career, will undergo a third surgery in less than a year in the coming days.

In a statement released through their website, the Gunners explained the fracture the England international suffered in a training ground collision in August now needs surgery due to a "slow healing process".

"The decision to intervene has been taken quickly after regular reviews by specialists, who feel that Jack's scans show that the healing process is not progressing as well as expected," the statement read.

"Jack will have surgery in London in the forthcoming days. This will involve inserting a small plate in his left fibula. Jack is likely to be out for approximately three months. Everyone at the club wishes Jack well with his rehabilitation."

Wilshere's latest bout of surgery will be his sixth in just four years, having undergone two procedures last season and another two between 2011 and 2012. He first went under the knife in September 2011 after suffering an ankle problem in a pre-season friendly against New York Red Bulls.

The England midfielder underwent minor knee surgery in May 2012 that ruled him out of that summer's European Championships and underwent another procedure a year later in May 2013 to remove a pin from his right ankle.

Last season, another ankle problem suffered in a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in November 2014 required another procedure and went under the knife again in February 2015 to have part of a screw inserted into his ankle during a previous surgery removed, one Arsene Wenger reassured would only rule him out for a "couple of days".

He joins Danny Welbeck on the sidelines, with the forward also expected to be ruled out until 2016 after undergoing knee surgery in September. Manager Arsene Wenger was criticised when the club announced his procedure, after it emerged he had known of the severity of his problem prior to the closure of the transfer window. Welbeck last featured for the club in April.