Mikel Arteta has had surgery to his left ankle and will be out of action for three months, meaning the midfielder may struggle to play again at his best level this season.
In another blow for Arsenal, it was confirmed the defender Mathieu Debuchy will also be out for the next three months following an operation to repair the shoulder he dislocated in Sunday’s win over Stoke City. He, too, faces a battle to feature prominently before the final fixture against West Bromwich Albion on 24 May.
Both players have endured seasons marred by injury, with Arteta having not played since the end of November because of a calf problem. When he was forced off in the Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund on 26 November, it was the third time this season he had damaged the calf muscle.
Specialists have traced the discomfort to a bony spur in the ankle and the club captain has had it removed. Arteta is out of contract in the summer and, although he is believed to have agreed a one-year extension, there has been no official announcement as yet.
“Mikel has had surgery which went well,” Arsène Wenger said. “He had a limited mobility in his ankle and some persistent inflammation that had an impact on his calf. That meant we had to make the decision to have surgery and it’s a proper solution, which gives him the best chance to recover.”
Debuchy has already endured one three-month lay-off after ankle ligament surgery in September. “It’s unbelievable that he’s had two surgeries in the same season,” Wenger said. “He just came back, he played seven games and he’s out again. I count three months out because contact will be a problem for the shoulder.”
Wenger will also be without Danny Welbeck (thigh) for Sunday’s visit to Manchester City, while Kieran Gibbs is only due back in training on Friday after achilles trouble and, as such, he is a doubt.
The injury problems have intensified Wenger’s focus on the transfer window this month. “Yes, we are more [in the market now],” he said. “We work really hard morning until late night to try to get one or two players in.”
The 17-year-old midfielder Krystian Bielik is poised to join from Legia Warsaw for £2.4m.