Wenger Admits Arsenal Star Could Be Out Until March + Sanchez Latest

Arsene Wenger has admitted that Santi Cazorla could be out until March with a knee ligament injury but refused to put a time-frame on Alexis Sanchez’s return to fitness.

Cazorla suffered a knee injury during the early stages of the second half against Norwich City last weekend after a clash with Gary O’Neil near the half-way line.

The Spaniard was able to carry on but despite the injury getting progressively worse as the game went on, he was forced to complete the full ninety minutes as we’d already made all three of our substitutions.

Newspaper reports during the week claimed that Cazorla had suffered ligament damage and was expected to be out until at least March so fans were hoping for some positive news from the boss at his pre-match press conference this morning ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Sunderland.

However, while Wenger refused to confirm the official diagnosis until the midfielder sees a specialist, he has admitted that it’s possible Cazorla will be out until March.

Sanchez also picked up a hamstring injury at Carrow Road last weekend and the media suggest he’s facing at least three weeks on the sidelines, but once again Wenger has refused to put a firm time-scale on his recovery.

The boss has taken a lot of stick once again as injuries threaten to derail our title challenge but he insists Arsenal don’t get more injuries than any other team in Europe.

Wenger is quoted as saying by the Mirror.

“Cazorla [is seeing a specialist] and is possibly out until March,”

“Sanchez is a hamstring [injury] but I don’t know how long it will take.

“Sanchez had four weeks holiday, he was rested in some games. We had five days between Dinamo and Norwich.

“No one said he could displace his hamstring or back when he was shoved into the cameras [by Ryan Bennett].

“If you want to blame me with the injuries, I have no problem with it.”

“[Injuries] are a debate that I leave to specialists. We compare our injuries across Europe and I don’t think we have more injuries than anyone else.

I’m not sure I agree that we don’t get any more injuries than other team as the stats suggest otherwise but there’s no denying our squad is once again being stretched to it’s limits during a key part of the season.

It will be a devastating blow if Cazorla is ruled out until March as he’s been a key component in our team this season but it looks as though Aaron Ramsey will now be set for an extended spell in the middle of the park.

Fingers crossed Sanchez can get back soon as it’s imperative we have him available for the busy festive period, and ideally he’ll be back in time to face Manchester City on December 21st.