Arsenal have suffered another significant blow to their Premier League title ambitions after Santi Cazorla’s comeback from knee ligament surgery was delayed by a new Achilles tendon injury.

Cazorla had targeted the Champions League round-of-16 second leg against Barcelona in two weeks for his much-needed return to the Arsenal teambut Arsène Wenger yesterday revealed the setback and admitted he does not know when the Spain midfielder will play again. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was also ruled out yesterday for up to eight weeks – and Jack Wilshere appears unlikely to return this month – but it is the Cazorla news that will impact most on Arsenal.

“Santi is not doing too well, he has some Achilles problems,” said Wenger. “His knee is doing well but his Achilles has inflamed a little bit and we have to put him off impact.” Asked if April was feasible, Wenger said: “We have to see now how he responds. He had always a little tendonitis on his Achilles.”