Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla is set to be sidelined until at least November after undergoing an eighth operation on his injured right ankle.
The 32-year-old has not played for the Gunners since their 6-0 victory over Ludogorets in October 2016 and now looks set to miss over an entire year of action.
"It's been a difficult season, since I have not played since November,” Cazorla told Cadena Ser’s El Larguero.
“I've been through surgery eight times , the last one on Monday and hopefully everything will go well following that.
"Since November I have had complications: there was a bacterial infection from surgery which infected the bone and then the scar did not close.
“I have not been given any deadlines, but at the moment we are probably looking at a period of at least another five months without football.
“It’s easy to throw in the towel but my desire is to play football and fight.
"I remember I had a bad spell with a back problem [while with Villarreal in 2010] but this is worse because it doesn't depend on me. Right now I can't think about the future, I just want to return to play.
“Arsenal have been fantastic with me and I am delighted Arsene (Wenger) is staying for another two seasons, he embodies the club.”
