Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere will undergo an operation on his right ankle, ruling him out of England’s end-of-season friendlies against Ireland and Brazil.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Wilshere “will have small, mild surgery … to remove a small pin. It will not be a problem.”

Wilshere missed the whole of last season with a variety of injuries and has also sat out six games since the end of March to monitor a left ankle problem.

Wenger says “at the moment, Jack plays with painkillers and I use him only when it is really needed.”

Wilshere could still play a part in Arsenal’s final two games of the season, against Wigan on Tuesday and Newcastle on Sunday.

Arsenal will qualify for the Champions League by winning both games.