Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has been ruled out for three months after learning he will require surgery on an ankle injury.
Cazorla injured the plantaris tendon in his right foot during the Gunners' 6-0 victory over Ludogorets in the Champions League on October 19.
The Spaniard has not featured since and now faces an extended spell on the sidelines because his rehabilitation has not progressed as hoped.
The blow comes less than 24 hours after Arsene Wenger insisted Cazorla's return was being delayed only by inflammation, adding that he had suffered "no setback".
Cazorla, who missed nearly five months of action with successive knee and Achilles injuries last season, will travel to Sweden early next week for the procedure.