Mikel Arteta, Arsenal rally around Jack Wilshere after latest injury setback

Following news that Jack Wilshere will go under the knife once again on Thursday, Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta has lent his support to the Englishman and talked of how important it is for the club to look after his mental well-being.

The latest setback is Wilshere's 16th separate injury to his ankle, foot or lower leg since 2009 and was sustained in August. Despite initial hopes that he would return after September's international break, it now looks like a significant layoff for the 23-year-old.

Related: Jack Wilshere to miss 3 months after undergoing another surgery​

The Gunners' skipper can certainly sympathise with Wilshere's plight. He has had his own fitness problems, with a calf problem restricting him to just 12 appearances last season and ankle surgery at the beginning of the year seeing him play just 31 minutes so far this campaign.

In the wake of news that Wilshere is having a plate inserted into his left fibula, Arteta stressed the responsibility of the North London club to keep up his morale.

"We know we cannot waste his talent because he has an amazing career ahead of him," Arteta told reporters ahead of Arsenal's match against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.

"We are responsible for putting that into his head every day and to not allow him to fall down because, at some stage, that is the danger; that he does not believe in himself or his body and he needs to trust himself."

The Spaniard also praised Wilshere's mentality in returning to the first team so many times before.

"Jack unfortunately has had a lot of difficult moments, but he has shown a lot of character and enthusiasm. He needs to use it to prove he can get back," Arteta said.

Manager Arsene Wenger tried to play down the severity of the operation and hopes that the midfielder will be back for Christmas.

"This kind of injury is not career-threatening," said Wenger. "It is a bone that did not heal well. It is nothing major. This was just an accident. It was not linked with his ankles or with the injuries he had before."