Wilshere faces weeks out as Nasri goes at last

Arsène Wenger revealed yesterday that Jack Wilshere has been diagnosed with a long-term ankle problem that will rule him out of action until well into next month, on the day that Samir Nasri's transfer to Manchester City finally went through.

The Arsenal manager, whose team face Udinese in the second leg of their Champions League qualifier in Italy tonight, said that the 19-year-old had broken down in training on Monday with a recurrent problem that the club fear could develop into a stress fracture if he continues playing. It means that Wilshere (above) will not play tonight or against Manchester United on Sunday and will not feature for England in their two Euro 2012 qualifiers next month.

There was some good news for Wenger yesterday: the Arsenal manager will be permitted to coach his side from the dugout tonight, with Uefa suspending his further two-match touchline ban while Arsenal's appeal is heard. However, the club were also told by the Football Association that, along with Newcastle United, they would be fined £30,000 for failing to control their players in their game 12 days ago.

Wenger said Wilshere first felt the problem with his ankle during the Euro 2012 qualifier for England against Switzerland in June. Wenger said: "Jack was always out long-term because he was out three weeks. He had a setback. It's a hot spot on the bone of his ankle that if you continue to play can lead to a stress fracture. So we had to stop him.

"During the holidays it was all right and then his pain increased when we were on tour in Asia. There is no chance he will be fit for England. He's in a [protective] boot now. It's not ideal for us on the day we sell Nasri.

"We knew he was in the red [physically] in the last two months and we continued to play him because we had no choice. But maybe it is a consequence of the overuse last year."

Although Nasri trained with his Arsenal team-mates in the morning, Wenger told him after the session that the club had reached agreement with City. Nasri travelled to Manchester for a medical. Nicklas Bendtner also missed the trip with an ankle injury and Henri Lansbury was left out of the squad.