Arsenal injury news: Jack Wilshere facing long spell on the sidelines after suffering setback

Arsenal's injury woes continue as Jack Wilshere could be facing a three-month spell on the sidelines after suffering a setback during his recovery from a fractured fibula. The Gunners midfielder suffered the injury during training and has been sidelined for the past four weeks.

According to the Daily Mail, the England international could be out for up to three months after failing to recover on time from the hairline fracture on his left foot. The midfielder, who was hoping to go through the season injury free, will be gutted at the latest setback, as he has already spent a considerable amount of time on the sidelines during recent campaigns.

Wilshere was expected to return to training following the international break, but Arsene Wenger confirmed the setback while being unaware of the extent of it. However, he immediately ruled him out of the clash against Stoke City on Saturday 12 September. The French manager was keen for the midfielder to have a full season without setbacks, after criticism regarding his lack of development in recent seasons following the initial potential shown early on in his career.

"I have not seen Jack Wilshere in the last two or three days. He is progressing slowly and I can't tell you much more about it. I will talk with my medical staff today," Wenger said, as quoted by the Daily Mail.

"It is slower than expected as I expected him to be back and available after the break but unfortunately he will not be available for Saturday. He had a little setback and I have to know about it but I can't tell you much more as I have no medical information," the Frenchman added.

The north London club are facing early season injury woes as they have already had a number of their players miss games through injury. Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky are long-term absentees with both suffering knee injuries prior to the start of the season, while Mesut Ozil missed the game against Newcastle United along with Per Mertesacker, but both are back in full training along with Laurent Koscielny, who missed the game against Liverpool.