Arsenal have confirmed that both Mathieu Debuchy and Mikel Arteta will miss three months of football.
French full-back Debuchy returned to action last month following a long injury lay off but will miss more playing time after landing badly during the 3-1 win over Stoke City last weekend.
The former Newcastle United man has seen a specialist this week and undergone surgery on his right shoulder, which will now keep him out until April.
“It’s very unfortunate for Mathieu, and it’s unbelievable because he’s had two surgeries in the same season,” Arsene Wenger told the club’s official website. “He just came back, he played seven games and he’s out again.”
Speaking to the club’s official website, Wenger also commented on Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta, who will also be out until April: “Mikel has had surgery which went well. I have just seen him, he is back with us at the training ground.
“He had a limited mobility in his ankle and some persistent inflammation that had an impact on his calf. That meant we had to make the decision to have surgery and it’s a proper solution which gives him the best chance to recover.”