Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla fears he could still face an extended period on the sidelines as he struggles to recover from an Achilles injury.
The 32-year-old has not featured since suffering a knock in a 6-0 Champions League win over Ludogorets on October 19 and is unlikely to be available for Saturday’s trip to Manchester United.
Arsene Wenger has been forced to push back Cazorla’s expected return date on more than one occasion – it had been initially hoped that the playmaker would miss only one match – and lost one of his most influential playmakers for four and a half months last season due to pain in his Achilles.
Despite suffering the injury nearly a month ago Cazorla remains unsure when he will be back in action for Arsenal.
In Pictures | Arsenal vs Ludogorets | 19/10/2016
“Well, I still don’t know the exact time,” he told Cadena Cope. “I am trying to return as soon as soon as possible to be with the team again but I cannot say if it will be soon or if I still have a few weeks left.
“That is what I don’t know, but hopefully it will be as soon as possible.”
Cazorla’s absence has been tough on Arsenal, who have at times struggled to find their usual incision without their deep-lying playmaker. Indeed Wenger was moved to confess that his side had not been the same without Cazorla in a 0-0 draw against Middlesbrough immediately after he picked up the injury.
