Arsenal leave Santi Cazorla out of their 25-man Premier League squad to spark fears that he’s some way off recovery from injury
Arsene Wenger's decision to cut Spaniard from list means he will only be able to play from 2018 at the earliest
SANTI CAZORLA has been left out of Arsenal’s squad for the new Premier League season.
The Spaniard has been nursing an Achilles injury for almost a year now, suffering the setback in a Champions League match against Ludogorets in October 2016.
Cazorla recently admitted he was confident of making a comeback shortly after posting a video of himself exercising.
However, it appears the playmaker is still come way off a recovery after he was left off Arsenal’s list for the first six months of the campaign.
The Gunners opted to select 25 players and clearly couldn’t find room for Cazorla on there.
It also indicates the ace may not return to first team action until after Christmas.
But there is room for Jack Wilshere in the set-up, as well as contract rebels Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.
Speaking about his comeback plans in July, Cazorla said: “I do not know how far I am [from returning] but I am convinced that I am going to play football again and at my best level.
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“I am working on it and hopefully it can be as soon as possible. I am convinced that I will come back. Those who want to retire me will get to see me again. I will return.”
The midfielder added last month in an Instagram caption: “One step more, one step closer! #Lookingforwardtoseeyouall!”
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