Arsenal have confirmed Santi Cazorla will have surgery on his injured achilles, with the Spain international expected to miss at least three more months of the season in a bitter blow for Arsène Wenger’s side.
Cazorla has been absent since picking up the injury in his right ankle in the 6-0 Champions League victory against Ludogorets in October, with Arsenal initially hopeful that the 31-year-old would only be out for a short spell.
However, Wenger admitted after the EFL Cup tie defeat against Southampton on Wednesday that he was unsure when the playmaker would be fit enough to return to action because of inflammation around the affected area. Cazorla visited a specialist this week, who recommended that he requires surgery to rectify the issue.
“Santi Cazorla is travelling to Sweden early next week to undergo surgery to his right ankle,” read an Arsenal statement on Thursday.
“The club’s medical team and specialists have decided that surgery is required to the plantaris tendon in the Spain international’s right foot.
“The problem has not progressed during a rehabilitation programme following the injury during the home match with Ludogorets on October 19. We expect Santi’s full recovery to take approximately three months. Everyone at the club will be working hard with Santi to make sure he’s back on the pitch as soon as possible.”
The loss of Cazorla for so long will be a blow for Wenger, who was without the player he signed from Málaga in 2012 for almost six months last season because of a knee injury. In the five Premier League matches Arsenal have played since his absence, they have drawn three and won just twice. It will also raise questions about the club’s medical staff given that it is now almost six weeks since he originally sustained the injury.
There was better news for Wenger with the return of Danny Welbeck to training after he sustained a knee injury in May. The England striker was expected to be sidelined for up to nine months but he could now be in contention to play over the Christmas period.
