Wilshere has ligament damage, admits Wenger

goal.com
The Arsenal boss is sad to see the midfielder once again facing time on the sidelines after a tackle from Manchester United's Paddy McNair caused what seems to be a serious injury.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says that Jack Wilshere's new ankle injury "does not look good" and has confirmed ligament damage.

The England international was forced off during his side's 2-1 defeat by Manchester United due to a challenge by Paddy McNair and is now waiting to discover whether or not he will require surgery.

Wilshere has been plagued by injuries throughout his career to date and Wenger put a negative outlook on the situation, despite ruling out a bone breakage.

"It does not look good," said the Frenchman.

"There is no bone damage but there is ligament damage. It is just how [long] it is, which we should know next week.

"It is so sad because he just came back and had found his mobility. I hope it will not be surgery, just in a boot, but it will be a few weeks."

Wenger, however, refused to castigate the inexperienced McNair for the tackle that caught Wilshere, believing it to be a rookie mistake.

"The tackle caught him from the side, just when he had moved the ball a bit forwards too much," the Gunners boss remarked.

"Then, when he dived to make the pass, McNair came in to make the tackle and took him from the back and the side. When you see the picture, it is very bad.

"I don't think it was a tackle with the desire to hurt. I think he went for the ball but it was a late tackle; a tackle which a young player can do. It was a bad foul."