Arsene Wenger does not expect Jack Wilshere to change his game to prevent injuries

Arsene Wenger believes Jack Wilshere's playing style has a significant part to play in the number of injuries he accrues over the course of a season.

The midfielder is out with a fracture on his right fibula, which can keep him out of action for almost eight weeks. The 23-year-old missed the major part of last season with an ankle injury after a challenge from Manchester United defender Paddy McNair forced him into surgery.

Wenger was hoping that he will play an active part in the start of this season but an accidental collision in training poured cold water over the manager's ambitions. The Gunners have ample cover in that position and should be alright to start the campaign without any debilitating problems in midfield.

The manager revealed that he had asked Wilshere to tone down his runs but insists that doing that restricts his ability as a footballer in the final third.

"Sometimes it is a game that provokes maybe more challenges than Gilberto Silva who just sat there deep and played, or Mesut Ozil who plays less dribbling," said Wenger, as quoted by the Mirror.

"Jack is a born football brain. He's a creative brain. He has no handbrake. But that tells him to provoke in the final third. That's where he creates all his chances.

"When he was 17 I told him sometimes 'come on, you do not need to go in there'. Now I think he is shrewd. But this is purely accidental. It could have happened to anyone.

"Jack's game is to provoke with the ball at his feet and go and penetrate. You take that away you change the player and you take one of his biggest strengths out of the game," he added.

The Gunners start their Premier League campaign against West Ham United on Sunday (9 August). Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky are unavailable due to injury but the manager stressed that they should be back in action imminently. Alexis Sanchez has been given an extended break following his exertions in the Copa America and is likely to be in the squad for the game against Crystal Palace next weekend.