Arsenal vs Swansea City: Santi Cazorla facing season knockout as Wenger confirms fresh injury blow

Arsenal have been handed a fresh injury blow after Santi Cazorla was diagnosed with an Achilles injury during his recovery from a knee injury that kept him out for the last three months. Arsene Wenger confirmed the midfielder's setback ahead of the Gunners clash against Swansea City in the Premier League on Wednesday (2 March).

The north London club's injury woes were easing with Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and Cazorla the only casualties. Arsenal have had a difficult week in terms of results following their back-to-back losses to Barcelona and Manchester United, they have also lost Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for two months with a knee injury and the setback to the Spaniard will be a further blow as they look to bounce back and reinvigorate their title challenge. The Emirates Stadium outfit have fallen to third place in the league and are currently six points behind leaders Leicester City and three points behind Tottenham Hotspur, whom they face on Saturday (5 March).

The 30-year-old former Malaga midfielder looked to be on course for a return at the end of the month and had targeted a return for the second-leg clash against the Catalan giants in the last 16 of the Champions League but his latest injury, according to Sky Sports, could rule him out for the rest of the season. The French manager also refused to put a time frame on his return, while revealing that the Spain international always had a "little" tendonitis in his ankle.

"Santi is not doing too well. He has some Achilles problems that hold him back. His knee is doing well but his Achilles has inflamed a little bit and we have to put him off impact," Wenger said, as quoted by the London Evening Standard.

"We have to see now how he responds. He had always a little tendonitis on his Achilles and we have to see how he responds to that."

Wenger, meanwhile, sounded positive with regards to Wilshere's recovery process but dispelled speculation that he had resumed training. The Arsenal manager expects the midfielder to return by the end of March or the beginning of April, which will give him time to recover and prove his form to England manager Roy Hodgson ahead of the team selection for the European Championships in France later in the year.

"Jack is doing quite well but has still not been outside yet. Running, I think, starts again this week. Three to four weeks (until he is back). I can understand you worry for the England team. I worry as well. I'm a supporter of England," the French coach added.