Jack Wilshere's neighbours have reportedly lodged a complaint with their council over a 'monstrous' erection in his back garden.

The Arsenal midfielder, who has spent the entire season so far out with a fractured fibula, has installed an 18ft-high mesh net along the boundary fence between his and his neighbours' properties in Hertfordshire.

The unnamed couple claimed in an interview with The Sun that the England star uses the net to catch stray balls as he practises in his back garden.

"We presumed the netting was for his children, but Jack told us it was for his own football practice," they said. "He can't be very good at scoring if he needs so much netting to stop balls flying everywhere. And why is he practising in his back garden? Isn't that what he goes to training for?

"We believe he should have had planning permission before putting up such a huge monstrosity."

A spokesperson for the 24-year-old told the newspaper that the issue was a "private matter" that was "being dealt with".