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Arsene Wenger has confirmed Jack Wilshere needs ANOTHER operation at the end of the season.

Arsenal playmaker Wilshere has been taking pain-killers to help him get through games and Wenger will only use him in the final two games if it is really necessary, even as the Gunners battle arch-rivals Tottenham for a Champions League place.

Wilshere is likely to only be on the bench against Wigan on Tuesday night, and is set to miss England's end-of-season friendlies against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley and Brazil.

That will be a major blow for England boss Roy Hodgson, who names his squad on Thursday and wanted Wilshere to be involved.

Wilshere will go under the knife to remove a metal pin used to provide support to his right foot after a stress-fracture injury kept him out for 17 months and threatened his career.

Arsenal boss Wenger insisted it is a straightforward procedure however, and that Wilshere should be pain-free once the pin is taken out.

Wenger said: "He will have small, mild surgery after the season. At the moment he plays with painkillers and I use him only when it's really needed.

"It is a very small, small, small one (operation). It will not be a problem. It's a two- to three-weeks job. It's taking out a pin.

"He will not play against Ireland or Brazil, but will be okay for pre-season. Of course (he is disappointed not to go to Brazil), but he will go next year (to the World Cup finals)!"

Wilshere will be anxious that this latest round of surgery clears up the problem ahead of a huge season for his career.

Arsenal have been anxious to stress that the 21-year-old's latest problem is not a major concern, but they will miss him against the new FA Cup Holders and then in Sunday's season-ending trip to Newcastle.

Tottenham have turned up the heat on the Gunners by overtaking them with Sunday's win at Stoke, but Wenger's men can secure fourth place - and at least a Champions League qualifier - if they win their last two games.

Wenger is confident his players have got the know-how and experience and also insisted that they will not be responsible for sending Wigan down.

The Frenchman added: "Yes, we are specialists, but what is more important is that we are on a great run, a remarkable run. We have a good spirit, a good understanding within the squad, so let's just continue to play. The best thing to do is focus on our game.

"You just want the players to have faith in the game you want to play, in the game we love, and focus on that. We have to try and be at our best tomorrow. The players have experience, a good solid attitude, good strong spirit, so they have good ingredients to do it.

"We do not send Wigan down if we beat them, it is the whole season that sends you down. They lost at home against Swansea and when they look back they will look more at the Swansea game.

"We are both in the same situation. We both need to win. That is part of the integrity of the Premier League."

Wenger, who says Wigan boss Roberto Martinez's dedication reminds him of himself as a younger manager, now has a new challenge awaiting him next season.

The 63-year-old, who sent Sir Alex Ferguson a congratulatory text to mark the Manchester United manager's impending retirement, says Everton boss David Moyes' appointment as Fergie's old Old Trafford successor is an "intelligent" move - and believes it has been mapped out for some time.

Wenger added: "It looks to me like an intelligent appointment, because he knows the Premier League well. It looks as well, when I look through some situations I've seen through the season, that it's a long-term appointment - that story has been done for a long time.

"I was not surprised - I told my staff a long time ago I think that it will be Alex Ferguson's last year, so I was not completely surprised.

"I detected a few signs through the season - there was already one of them before the season started - that it could be his final year.

"But it makes sense. Of course it's a step up for David Moyes now, because the demands will be huge when you follow a guy like Ferguson, but he looks like he can fill in with quality, competence and he has the experience and he knows all the Premier League players."

Arsenal vs Wigan: Probable teams

Arsenal Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky; Walcott, Cazorla, Podolski.

Wigan Robles; Boyce, Scharner, Alcaraz, Espinoza; McManaman, McArthur, McCarthy, Watson, Maloney; Kone.