Unfortunately there is no good news on the injury front to report this morning, with Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla saying that he could be laid up for more than the initial estimate of three months according to Ben Burrows of the Daily Mirror.
The 31-year-old former Malaga man injured his knee during the 1-1 draw with Norwich at Carrow Road in November, but was able to play on until scans after the match revealed the extent of the damage that had been done.
Wenger speaking about Cazorla’s injury confirmed that the little Spaniard would be missing from action for up to three months, but now it looks as though it could be longer with Cazorla saying he thinks he will miss both matches against Barcelona.
“I am trying to take it well,” he told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope. “These are the things that happen in football and I am trying to recover as soon as possible.
“I have to be ready mentally to work and hopefully I can shorten the recovery time as much as possible.
“I do not want to set a time but I want to play in three months. I do not want to extend it more if it is possible. Arsenal have told me it will be between three and four months, which may be closer to four.”
Meanwhile long-term injured forward Danny Welbeck could remain out until well into the New Year after having suffered a number of setbacks during rehabilitation from the knee surgery that he underwent in September according to the Mirror’s Liam Corless.
The 25-year-old last played for the Gunners in the 0-0 draw with Chelsea back in April, and could remain out until February.
This means that the England international will have plenty of work to do in impressing manager Roy Hodgson that he deserves a place in the England squad that will contest the European Championships in France next summer.
