Cazorla may be out for another month

Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla may be sidelined for another month with an Achilles injury, according to Gunners' manager Arsene Wenger.

Cazorla has been out of action for over a month, since limping out of the 6-0 Champions League thrashing of Ludogorets on 19 October, but Wenger hopes the 31-year-old will be back in training in around a fortnight, and match-fit after Christmas.

"At the moment I have given up a little bit on [Cazorla returning this weekend against Bournemouth]," Wenger told a news conference ahead of Wednesday's Champions League match with Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium.

"I don't know how far he is. He is still not in full-time training.

"It is an inflammation at the back of his Achilles. My gut feeling is it will be short [term] - two weeks.

"But when a player comes back to full training it still takes two weeks for a player to be ready to play again."

Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott missed training ahead of the clash with the French champions, but Wenger hopes both players, who featured in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Manchester United, will be fit for the Group A fixture against Unai Emery's side.

"Everybody has recovered from Saturday," the Frenchman continued.

"We left Walcott and Ramsey out of training for recovery but they should be alright. Lucas Perez is back in training but not with the squad."

Wenger also moved to dampen speculation that he started Alexis Sanchez at Old Trafford against the advice of his medical team.

Sanchez played for Chile last week against Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier despite fears over a hamstring injury, then travelled 7,250 miles to start the game against Manchester United.

"I never forced, in my whole life, any player to play. I never demanded any player be injected to play. The suggestions that we push him to play are completely wrong," he said.

"I'd like to give a winter break to everybody, I could only do it for Mesut Ozil because Germany didn't pick him. But Sanchez wasn't overloaded before the United game."

Arsenal and PSG, who have both already qualified for the last 16, head Group A with ten points from from four matches, with FC Basel and Rudogorets each on one point from their four matches.

PSG's Ivorian defender Serge Aurier has been refused permission by British authorities to travel to England for the match, because of a recent assault conviction.

"Due to a sudden about-face by the British authorities, Serge Aurier has not been allowed to travel with Unai Emery's squad for the clash away to Arsenal," a PSG statement read.

"Paris Saint-Germain is stunned by this incomprehensible situation that attacks the very integrity of the UEFA Champions League."

Photo (©Getty Images/Matthew Lewis)

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