Arsene Wenger has revealed that Santi Cazorla could be offered a new contract by Arsenal despite facing a fight to save his career.

Cazorla has not played for Arsenal since October 2016 after suffering Achilles and ankle problems which have required 10 different operations.

The 33-year-old claimed in January he was optimistic of returning to competitive action in 2019 but the horrific extent of his injury – which included losing eight centimetres from the tendon in his right ankle – leaves his future at the highest level in serious doubt with his current deal to expire this summer.

However, when asked whether Cazorla will be assessed with a view to offering him an extension Wenger said: “Yes, of course. We miss him a lot. I never spoke about it in the press conferences, or not many times, as he was not the subject of the day but we have missed him a lot in our game. He is an exceptional football player and it is very sad what happened to him, and very sad for Arsenal as well.

“I have not seen him since the League Cup final because he has gone back to [Spain to] make his rehab. We leave him there. But the last news I heard is that he is doing very well, so I hope that certainly he will come back before the end of the season and we can make a check-up of where he stands.

“Can he play again in the Premier League? I don't know, I have to see how he responds to his injury.”