Mesut Ozil has been handed a further injury blow as he has been ruled out for a further seven weeks with a knee injury.
The 25-year-old was initially diagnosed with a partial ligament tear after Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat against Chelsea back in October.
Ozil said: “I have already been out for five weeks and will be out for another seven weeks.”
Arsene Wenger would have hoped to have the German midfielder back ahead of the busy festive period but he will not be back until early 2015.
Wenger has been without Oliver Giroud and Mathieu Debuchy due to long-term injuries aswell as the absence of defender Laurent Koscielny with tendinitis. Giroud has given his manager a major boost as the French striker returned to first team training today after he suffered a broken foot back in September.
Ozil added: “That is a really long time but that is the way it is in football sometimes. My head is held high and we look forward.”