Huge blow for Arsenal: Wenger confirms knee injury to star midfielder
Aug 2, 2016 at 10:49 AM
Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Jack Wilshere missed Arsenal’s 3-1 victory against Chivas due the recent knee injury sustained by the midfielder recently.
The 24-year-old had to endure an injury-plagued season last term and waited until April to make his first appearance for the club.
The midfielder, however, made it into Roy Hodgson’s England squad for Euro 2016 and also played in Arsenal’s friendly last week with the MLS All-Stars.
Wenger confirmed that Wilshere missed the friendly with Chivas on Sunday because of a patella problem but he is hopeful that the 24-year-old can make a swift return.
“It’s a slight patella problem but I think he should be with us on tour on Thursday,” said Wenger.
“I hope he will be.”
Wilshere has always wanted to succeed at Arsenal more than anything. Maybe that will be his saving grace. Or maybe he can just stay healthy for once and calm all the Gooners’ fear about his career.
Arsenal will travel to Norway to face Viking on Friday before concluding their preseason slate against Manchester City in Sweden on Sunday.
The Gunners open the Premier League at home against Liverpool, though Wenger said Santi Cazorla may not be available for the Aug. 14 game.
“He is our technical security in midfield and we missed him for five or six months last season,” Wenger said. “At the moment he is not completely there on the fitness front. That’s why I took him off at half-time.
“He’s a bit behind the others physically but I think he will be alright, maybe not on August 14th, but at the end of August he should be alright,” he said, referring to the Gunners’ first match of the Premier League season at home to Liverpool.