Arsene Wenger says Jack Wilshere ice skating trip 'not ideal' as Arsenal boss vows to try and win Europa League

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has expressed his surprise that injury-prone Jack Wilshere went ice skating with his family this week, calling the situation 'not ideal'.

The ice skating trip, documented on Wilshere's Instagram account on Wednesday, was brought to Wenger's attention as he preview Thursday's UEFA Europa League match against BATE Borisov.

The picture featured Wilshere on the ice in London with his wife, Andriani, and his two children, Archie and Delilah. Wilshere captioned the picture: 'Positive week, managed to get through 20 minutes of ice skating without getting injured.'

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere went on an ice skating trip with his wife and two children this week but his manager Arsene Wenger described the activity as 'not ideal'

Wenger pictured on the training ground ahead of Arsenal's Europa League game with BATE

Wilshere will be looking to get more minutes under his belt against BATE on Thursday night

When asked about it, Wenger said: 'It's not ideal, honestly, but for your balance it is not bad. For a footballer, I don't think it is great but it depends what you do.

'I don't know exactly [what he did on the ice]. You can do ice skating and make sure nothing happens. Ice skating violently, I don't think he did that.'

Wilshere has completed four of Arsenal's five Europa League group matches so far and is in contention to start again at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night.

The Gunners are already through to the knockout phase and are assured of top spot, with BATE, Cologne and Red Star Belgrade still in contention to qualify in second spot.

The 25-year-old Wilshere, who has suffered a succession of injury setbacks in recent years, is pushing for a more regular spot in Arsenal's Premier League starting line-up at the moment.

Wilshere (centre) is set for another chance to stake a claim for a first-team berth

Ainsley Matland-Niles is one of the Arsenal youngsters hoping to play against Borisov

Arsenal have already qualified for the Europa League knockout stage as group winners

Arsenal are looking for a response after Saturday's 3-1 Premier League loss to Manchester United, a match in which they forced David de Gea into 14 saves, a league record.

He defended himself against a barb by United manager Jose Mourinho, who alleged Wenger hadn't been truthful when he said striker Alexandre Lacazette was not fit enough to play in the lead-up to the fixture.

Wenger said: 'I thought he wouldn't play but in the end he could play. What did you want me to do - leave him at home?

'I'm always honest, I thought he wouldn't play but when he had the tests on Friday morning, he tried and he played. That's part of football.'

Mourinho led United to glory in the Europa League last season, earning them a place back in the Champions League for the current campaign.

And Wenger is planning to take Europe's secondary competition seriously too, saying: 'I think we have a chance to win it, let's give it a chance.

Arsenal's Mesut Ozil looked to be feeling the cold during their training session on Wednesday

Wenger talks to defender Hector Bellerin as the Gunners trained at their London Colney base

'It's like the FA Cup, we go straight now to direct knockout so it's important we give it a go.'

Wenger confirmed that defender Shkodran Mustafi was his only injury concern for the BATE match after the German picked up a 'little thigh problem' against United.

If he doesn't make Thursday night or Sunday's league visit to Southampton, Wenger expected him to be fit for next Wednesday's visit to West Ham.