Santi Cazorla has no idea when he'll return for Arsenal as injury hell starts to take its toll on his personal life

Santi Cazorla has revealed the extent of his agonising nine-month injury absence and the toll that it is taking on his personal life on the same day that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted he still does not know when the midfielder will return to action.

Wenger has injury concerns over Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Gabriel Paulista ahead of this weekend’s Emirates Cup, with the trio ruled out of the pre-season tournament in north London and unlikely to feature in next week’s Community Shield curtain-raiser against Chelsea.

The French manager has not been able to call on Cazorla since last October’s Champions League victory over Ludogorets, when a fairly innocuous challenge soon led to his withdrawal and an initial three-week lay-off spiralled into a season-ending injury.

Speaking to Spanish television, Cazorla admitted himself that he does not know when he will be able to pull on an Arsenal shirt once again, and the 32-year-old revealed how his absence is also having an impact on his six-year-old son, Enzo.

“I don't know how long it will take, but I'm convinced that I'll be back soon,” Cazorla said.

“Each time I leave the operating theatre, I think that everything will be fine and I'll be back again. The doctors have told me that a case like mine is one that they probably won't see again for a long time as it is unusual for an athlete. I had no strength in my tendon or muscle mass.

“Every day my son asks me if I will play again because he really wants to see me out on the pitch again and I really hope that it will happen soon.”

The Spain international has been able to take inspiration though from one of his compatriots. Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo has had to fight his way back from repeated cruciate ligament injuries, and after seeing his friend return to form last season, Cazorla believes there is no reason why he cannot do the same once he regains his fitness.

“I was surprised by how well he was doing when I saw him,” Cazorla added. “He is an example to everyone. There is no better man to mirror myself on than him.”