SANTI CAZORLA is out for the rest of the season and is already focussing on getting fit for August.
The Arsenal midfielder has missed most of this season and hasn’t played since October.
And he has suffered a setback with his ankle problem and is now looking at next season for his return, according to the Daily Mirror.
Cazorla, 32, has played just 10 times this season and has left a gaping hole in the Arsenal midfield.
Arsene Wenger's side have struggled in his absence with Jack Wilshere out on loan and Aaron Ramsey also struggling with injury.
Pressure has increased on Wenger following last week's Champions League humiliation in Munich.
But Cazorla's future appears secure after it emerged he has signed a one-year contract extension to stay next season.
Five players who could replace Arsenal's Santi Cazorla
Thu, December 1, 2016Express Sport takes a look at five players who could replace injured Arsenal ace Santi Cazorla
Express Sport takes a look at five players who could replace injured Arsenal ace Santi Cazorla
However Wenger admitted he was frustrated with Cazorla's situation back in January.
“At the moment, he is far from returning,” he said.
“It’s not going as quickly as I imagined, so certainly in January he will not come back. It could be a bit longer (than three months).
“At the moment I don’t really know, but I just have a schedule that shows he is not planned to go outside and run at the moment.
“It is frustrating because he’s such a great player and because he has started the season in such a tremendous way. He was the dominating player in our squad at the start of the season and we suddenly lost him.”