Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere will miss a number of key games for both club and country after picking up an ankle injury, report Sky Sports.

The 21-year-old sustained an ankle problem during the Gunners’ 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane and could be out of action for up to three weeks.

Wilshere will miss Wednesday night’s trip to Bayern Munich in the Champions League – an already hugely difficult task made even more galling by the news of the little maestro’s absence.

England will also feel the effects of the midfielder’s injury with the youngster being ruled out of the World Cup qualifying fixtures against San Marino and Montenegro.

Breather

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: “Wilshere has an inflamed ankle, the other ankle. He will be out for Bayern, Swansea and for England.

“Hopefully for the Premier League, he will only miss one game because of the international break.

“I noticed recently he has had to dig deep for us, it’s not welcome for us but he needed a breather.

“But it’s more preventative. We trust our people who are specialists.”

Important

Roy Hodgson will confirm his selected squad for the international double-header this Thursday but will be forced to plan without Wilshere who is seen to be arguably one of England’s most important players.

The youngster turned heads all around the world with a fantastic display during England’s victory over Brazil in February.

Wilshere was absent for around 15 months with an ankle injury he could not shake off, but has returned this season and has been perhaps Arsenal’s best player throughout the campaign.

The Gunners will be without the talismanic midfielder when they visit Swansea at the weekend but hope to have him back in time for their clash with struggling Reading at the end of the month.