Santi Cazorla to miss rest of the season with ankle injury in huge blow for Arsenal
Arsenal are set to be without the Spanish midfielder for the remainder of the season, according to reports
SANTI CAZORLA could be sidelined for the rest of the season in a damaging blow for Arsenal.
The Mirror report that the Spanish midfielder is focusing on returning in August for the start of next season.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was hopeful Cazorla would return from his ankle problem before the end of the current campaign.
Cazorla had surgery on his right ankle back in December and was initially thought to return to action in three months, but his boss has revealed he has had to undergo another procedure.
Last month, Wenger said: “He’s far from starting to run again.
“He had a little procedure, yes, but we have a meeting with the medical people to see what it was.”
Wenger does believe that Cazorla will feature again before the end of the campaign, he said: " Yeah, I hope so.
"Because once you start to go out (running outside) you have to count six weeks' preparation.
"At the moment he's not at that level, so let's hope he can come back in the next three or four weeks on the pitch."
Cazorla has made close to 200 appearances for the Gunners since signing from Malaga in 2012, and has won two FA Cups.
He hasn't played since the 6-0 win over Ludogorets in the Champions League in October.