Arsene Wenger insists Jack Wilshere will come back stronger after his latest injury setback.
Gunners midfielder Wilshere is out for three months after undergoing surgery on his left ankle to add to Arsenal’s crippling injury list.
Wilshere has endured a succession of injuries but Wenger says he has never been more certain that the England international will come back.
Arsenal boss Wenger said: “He is very down. He is a football man who loves the game. On the other hand he is very strong as well and has learnt to deal with adversity from a very young age.
“He always comes out stronger and when I spoke with him he is already determined, it is already in his mind the final sprint to the season. He is a very strong boy.
“He’s prepared and focused to come back and finish the season well. I think he will be back at the end of February, beginning of March and he will focus on coming back to rehab, having a strong rehab, and then I’m sure he will help us to do well until the end of the season.
The pictures from Saturday’s game of Wilshere’s ankle look shocking but Wenger again insisted that Manchester United defender Paddy McNair was not to blame despite his X-rated tackle.
Wenger said: “I think his injury is just a consequence of a tackle that is very bad but not malicious because I don’t think that McNair wanted to hurt Jack. It’s very late and anybody who gets a tackle like that can have this kind of problem. The former problem was a bony problem.
“He has joints that are quite lax and he deals very well with kicks and tackles. This was too hard. When you see it again, I don’t think that anybody would have escaped without surgery in this tackle.
“Our first quality in our job is health. If he has no problem with his joints, he will make a massive career. I was more worried one year ago than I am today because he had two or three surgeries on his right ankle.
“At some stage, you could raise that question but today I am much more confident that he will [fulfil his potential].”
Wenger also insisted that Wilshere’s injuries have nothing to do with the way he plays or his ability to release the ball as late as possible.
"No, it’s his strong point to turn, run at people and be committed - you don’t want to take that away from him,” said Wenger.
In pictures: Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United
Wenger has a terrible injury list for the trip to West Brom but Danny Welbeck and Wojciech Szczesny are expected to be back in the squad. Mikel Arteta also joined the walking wounded this week.
Laurent Koscielny could be ready to start after being on the bench against Borussia Dortmund and Mathieu Debuchy is nearing a return with Wenger claiming the French right back will be back in two weeks.
Wenger added: “We have so many knocks after this game that I could only sort it out this morning to see who will really be available or not. I will have to check this morning how available everybody is.
“Szczesny has not practiced yet at all. Arteta is out for sure of course and I think Sanogo has problems as well because I had to take him off. We have a few other players that we have to check.
“Welbeck will have a test this morning. He has not practiced yet. I can’t tell you at the moment [if he’s okay].”