Wenger optimistic about Wilshere's progress

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ruled Jack Wilshere out of this weekend's Premier League game with Reading but says he is optimistic that the midfielder's ankle problem will not keep him out for too long. Wilshere has not played since Arsenal's 2-1 loss at north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in March, and had been expected to feature against Reading on Saturday after a period of rehabilitation that included a visit to Dubai. However, sccording to AFP, Wenger says that he will not be ready to return for at least two weeks. "Wilshere's injury is not better or worse. It was an inflammation of his (ankle) bone and we had such history with him, we are a bit more cautious than we would be with you or with me," Wenger told reporters at a press conference on Thursday. "We deferred a little bit his rehab by one week. We gave him one more week rest because it was wise medically to do it. "Honestly, it's very difficult (to predict when he will be back). I believe in two weeks on Sunday. That means not the next game; the game after." Wilshere missed the whole of last season with knee and ankle problems, and Wenger said that as a result, Arsenal are unwilling to take any chances with him. "We will rest him when it is needed. He has regular scans and as soon as we have an alert, we will respect it no matter what is at stake," Wenger said. Wenger also revealed that Theo Walcott is due to receive more treatment after picking up what the Arsenal manager described as a "minor hip/groin injury" while on international duty with England. The Frenchman said he had no qualms about the way Walcott had been handled by England though. "We have a good relationship (with England) and I have no concern about that," he said. "Walcott's (injury) is an accident that could have happened here."