Arsenal have injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against Reading with Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott both sidelined.
Wilshere missed the whole of last season through injury and the 21-year-old is facing another spell on the sidelines after suffering from a recurrence of the ankle problem.
The injury forced him to miss England’s World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro and Arsenal manage Arsene Wenger has revealed that the problem is more serious that first thought, ruling him out of the weekend’s visit of Reading.
“We deferred his rehab and gave him an extra week’s rest. medically, it was wise to do it,” Wenger told reporters at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
Walcott was injured while on international duty with England and he will definitely miss the clash with the Royals, while Abou Diaby and Kieran Gibbs are rated doubtful.
Confirming the news, Wenger was quick to clear England of any blame for Walcott’s latest injury setback.
“Wilshere will still be out. Walcott is injured, Diaby has a problem we will have to check and Gibbs has been ill.
“We have a good relationship [with England]. Walcott’s injury was an accident.”