Arsenal confirm extended absence for Wilshere

Arsenal FC manager Arsène Wenger has confirmed that Jack Wilshere will miss the entire UEFA Champions League group stage after being sent for surgery to repair an ankle problem. The midfielder, 19, has been out of competitive action since first sustaining the stress fracture to his right ankle during England's 2-2 UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying draw with Switzerland on 4 June. He further aggravated the situation by playing in a friendly fixture in July. He has now had an operation and Wenger explained he would be out for "at least four months". The Frenchman added: "The fracture he had didn't heal, we had to go in quite quickly to repair it, that's why we did it so quickly." Arsenal kicked off their UEFA Champions League Group F campaign with a 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund and take on Olympiacos FC at home on Wednesday.