Champions League: Arsenal's Jack Wilshere Set to Miss Bayern Munich Clash

First there was Franck. Now it's Jack.

Jack Wilshere is the latest big name added to the list of players who will take no part in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg between Bayern Munich and Arsenal Wednesday night. The match is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. ET at Allianz Arena, with Bayern holding a 3-1 advantage following the first leg three weeks ago in London.

Wilshere, a 21-year-old England international midfielder, will miss the match with an inflamed ankle, manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed. He will miss about three weeks, meaning he will also be unavailable for England's FIFA World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro.

Wenger said (per The Guardian):

"

I could see in the last couple of games he had started to dig deep. He has played 30 games. For us it is not welcome but maybe for him it is not bad that he has a little breather.

It is more about prevention. The specialist decided he needed it. He has some bone bruising. The last time it deteriorated into a stress fracture. That's what we don't want to happen.

"

Wilshere's injury is not only bad news for Arsenal on Wednesday, but it could also serve as a long-term worry. Wilshere returned to the first team in October after missing more than a year with an injury to his other ankle.

Wenger added: "We trust people who are specialists in this area. He was out for 17 months and we had to deal with it; we must be able to deal with it for two or three games."

Defender Bacary Sagna is also unavailable for Arsenal against Bayern. The German leaders will play without influential midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger (suspension) and Franck Ribery (injury).

Kieran Gibbs and Abou Diaby are back in Arsenal's squad.

Without Wilshere, Arsenal's already-difficult task will be even more difficult. The English midfielder has played an influential role with the team since his return from injury. Bayern, meanwhile, have allowed only nine goals at home in the Bundesliga this season.

"We've been very good defensively," said Bayern defender Philipp Lahm (via @henrywinter). "We have dynamic players upfront. It will be very difficult for Arsenal."

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