• Premier League

Arsenal fear Wilshere needs surgery

Arsene Wenger admits Jack Wilshere could need surgery on the "very bad" ankle injury he suffered in Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.

Wilshere is set to see a specialist after damaging his ankle ligaments following a sliding challenge by United defender Paddy McNair at the Emirates Stadium.

"It does not look good, but the tackle caught him from the side just when he had moved the ball a bit forwards too much 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,'' said Wenger, who described the challenge as a "bad foul'' of a "young player'', but one not with the "desire to hurt.''

Jack Wilshere was caught on the ankle by Paddy McNair © Getty Images

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"There is no bone damage, we knew that straight away after the game, but there is ligament damage.

"It is just the extension of how much it is, which we should know Tuesday or Wednesday [of next week]. I hope it will not be surgery, just in a [protective] boot, but it will be a few weeks."

Wenger added that the injury was even more upsetting for player and manager since Wilshere had just returned from another setback.

However, he feels Wilshere wouldn't be the same player if he changed his style of play to try and protect himself from picking up further injuries.

"You see in the big games he has the personality. It is more about his game, it shows you he is not scared to play and is ready to want to get the ball always," said Wenger.

"It is because he doesn't want to lose the ball, he is ready to put his body in. You cannot take that out, otherwise he will not be Jack Wilshere anymore."

Arsenal have endured their worst start to a league season for 32 years with Borussia Dortmund next up in the Champions League tonight at the Emirates Stadium.

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Arsenal and Liverpool have started poorly © Getty Images

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Wenger's side need only a point to qualify for the last 16, but, ahead of the match, the Arsenal manager has been forced to defend himself from stinging criticism made by Alisher Usmanov, telling the club's major shareholder to show some solidarity.

"Do you really think you can do 30 years in my job and not take criticism? If I couldn't take criticism, I would not still be any more,'' said Wenger, now the longest serving manager in the Premier League.

"Do you like that everybody says that you are stupid? But that is part of it, you learn to cope with it, you believe in what you think is right.

"[Is the criticism] fair or unfair? I don't know any more what is fair, but I know what happens after you lose a big game.

"You learn to adapt, you take a distance with what is right. You know part of the game is that. I am just frustrated and sad that people who love this club do not get the results they deserve and want.

"The players put so much energy in and don't get rewarded. That is my biggest concern, the criticism? That is part of it."

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