Arsenal's Jack Wilshere "very down" after suffering three-month injury blow

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that Jack Wilshere is "very down" after undergoing surgery on his ankle, which is expected to keep him out for three months.

The England international suffered the problem following a tackle by Paddy McNair during Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United last weekend.

"He is very down," Wenger told reporters. "Jack is a football man who loves the game, but on the other hand, he is a very strong character as well and he has learnt to deal with adversity at a very young age.

"I think he will be back at the end of February, beginning of March, and he will focus on coming back to rehab, having a strong rehab, and then I am sure he will help us to do well until the end of the season."

Wilshere has suffered a number of problems with his ankle, most notably back in 2011 when he was given a 17-month layoff with a stress fracture.