Santi Cazorla has opened up about the extent of his long lay-off from football, revealing how an infection he suffered after surgery almost led to his foot being amputated.

The Arsenal midfielder has not played since a 6-0 Champions League victory over the Bulgarian side Ludogorets last October and even that appears remarkable given the difficulties he endured after sustaining a right ankle injury while playing for Spain in 2013.

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper Marca, Cazorla explained how the pain of the injury remained and was so bad that it led to him breaking down in tears. Last December he underwent surgery because of a tendon injury in his right foot – having had an operation to repair a ruptured ligament in his left knee 12 months previously – and, after the wound failed to heal, a further eight bouts of surgery.

“The medical professionals told me it was OK, the problem was that it did not heal and the wounds would reopen, and become infected,” said Cazorla, before going on to explain how he sought a long-term solution to the problem in England but failed to find one and so decided to visit a specialist in Spain.

“He saw that I had a tremendous infection, that I had damaged part of the calcaneus bone and it had eaten the achilles tendon,” Cazorla told Marca. “There was eight centimetres of it missing.”

The 32-year-old, who joined Arsenal from Málaga for £15m in 2012 and has made 180 appearances for the London club, underwent several antibiotic treatments in order to clear up the infection and was told there was a risk he could lose his foot.

Cazorla, having undergone a last bout of reconstructive surgery on the injured tendon in May, is now on the road to recovery. Having signed a recent contract extension that ties him to Arsenal until June 2018, he hopes to play for Arsène Wenger’s side again in January.

“Everything that I have gone through has not been as simple an injury as people have believed,” added Cazorla. “Nobody trusted me but I do, I still do, although the pain keeps me cautious.”

Speaking about Cazorla on Friday, Wenger said: “I have been in touch with Santi throughout his rehab, and it has been extremely tough and testing for him. If there is one guy who loves football passionately, loves to be on the pitch and comes in with a smile every day when he is fit, it’s Santi Cazorla, so you know he suffers a lot not to be out there with the ball at his feet.

“He is extremely strong and brave, and behind his smile is a strength you would not guess. He is a very strong character, and everyone at Arsenal wishes him well and we hope to have him back soon.”