No hurry: Wilshere has been told not to rush back

'I spoke to the manager (Wenger) and he just said for me to take my time and come back when I'm ready.'

Theo Walcott, a team-mate of Wilshere's for club and country, reflected the disappointment within the two camps that the return of such an increasingly influential midfielder had been further delayed.

'Jack is very important for us,' said Walcott. 'It is a shame he has had this ankle problem. He is a bright lad.

'He will be back as soon as he can. Fingers crossed it will be sooner than that. We are going to miss him but we are professional enough to get on with it.'

Wenger today will personally attend a disciplinary hearing in Switzerland today to appeal against UEFA's two-match touchline ban, which he was given after breaking the terms of his initial one-match ban during the first leg of Arsenal's play-off against Udinese.

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