Arsène Wenger has revealed Santi Cazorla's latest injury setback will play no part in determining whether the influential Arsenal midfielder wins a new contract.

Cazorla, who turns 32 this month, is a favourite at the Emirates but could now be facing up to an uncertain future in north London.

The Spanish midfielder becomes a free agent at the end of the season but will be sidelined until at least March with an ankle injury.

There's no doubting Arsenal are a far better side with than without Cazorla as the statistics indicate. Since August 2014 Arsenal's win percentage is 65 per cent compared to 41 when he does not start, and the Arsenal manager, who is reluctant to hand out long-term deals to players aged 30 and above, would be loathed to lose Cazorla.

But Cazorla, who has long been linked with a return home to La Liga, missed six months of last season with a knee injury and his fresh setback will do little to quash talk that his body cannot last the rigours of the Premier League for a full season.

“Santi has six months left and we have an option,” said Wenger. “The decision on him will be taken in January. No, it does not depend on his fitness. It's my decision only. Santi is an exceptional player and it's just for him to be capable to play.



“And the dressing room needs a balance between experienced and youth team players. You needed to be guided as well by some experienced players when you go through difficult times. They help you always keep your feet on the ground and keep focused.”

Wenger's history suggests he is fiercely loyal. Despite Tomas Rosicky's injury record, the veteran Czech playmaker was handed a new one-year deal.

However the move backfired as he did not kick a ball in the league last season. Mikel Arteta and Abou Diaby were only finally released when Wenger finally ran out of patience with their poor injury records.

Arsenal transfer targets Show all 7 1 /7 Arsenal transfer targets Arsenal transfer targets Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund) Arsenal were reportedly interested in signing the Gabonese striker in the summer and may return with an offer to Dortmund at the end of the season. Aubameyang has been in scintillating form this season, scoring 15 goals in 15 games in all competitions. Getty Arsenal transfer targets Paul-Georges Ntep (Rennes) The left-midfielder’s deal at Rennes expires at the end of the season and so he will be free to sign a pre-contract in January. A strong dribbler of the ball, Ntep has been made two appearances for France. Getty Arsenal transfer targets Reece Oxford (West Ham) After Oxford became West Ham’s youngest ever player to appear in the Premier League at just 16 years old (his debut came against the Gunners), he immediately attracted interest from some of England’s big clubs, including Arsenal. However he is reportedly set to sign a new five-year deal. Getty Arsenal transfer targets Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid) The 21-year-old Uruguayan has already played 21 times for his country and has been touted as a future world-class centre-back. Currently on the books of Atletico Madrid, Gimenez is not a regular and a move in January would surely appeal to him. Getty Arsenal transfer targets Peter Gwargis - Husqvarna “Who?” you may ask. The Swedish midfielder is just 16 years old and has been compared to current Arsenal attacker Mesut Özil after he started training with the Husqvarna first team in his home country. The Gunners face competition from PSV for his signature according to the player’s representative. Getty Arsenal transfer targets Stefan de Vrij (Lazio) The Netherlands defender is contracted to Lazio until 2019 but has been linked with a move to Chelsea and Arsenal. De Vrij, who used to play for Feyenoord in his home country, has been in good form this season as Lazio sit fourth in Serie A. Getty Arsenal transfer targets Chris Smalling (Manchester United) After Jose Mourinho’s strong public criticism of the England defender, other Premier League clubs have been put on alert if Smalling decides he wants to leave the Manchester club. Getty

Heading into the final six months, there will be fears over Cazorla's long-term fitness but the void he would leave is more of a pressing concern.

Wenger won't dip into the transfer market to replace the deep-lying playmaker, but the likes of Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny or Aaron Ramsey have done little to suggest they are a long-term solution.

Wenger added: “With Roskicky, he got injured but that is the risk when you take an option. When I play Santi most of the time I have Francis Coquelin because he is a defensive breaker of attacks.

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“Xhaka, for me, in midfield is moving upwards. He has a different influence to Santi. He passes through the lines while Santi is more of guy who gets out of very tight situations.”

Another Arsenal player facing a period of uncertainty is Carl Jenkinson, with Wenger willing to take him out of the firing line to save him from potentially being left mentally scarred at Arsenal.

Jenkinson, 24, is the only fit recognised right-back and was expected to face West Ham on Saturday, but a poor run of form saw him roundly booed by his own supporters following Wednesday's EFL Cup quarter-final defeat to Southampton.

Jenkinson is currently Arsenal's only fit and recognised right-back (Getty)

Now Wenger is set to turn to Gabriel, a centre-back by trade, as a makeshift option with first-choice Hector Bellerin and Mathieu Debuchy sidelined.

Of Jenkinson, Wenger said: "Mentally he has not found his total level. He has lost confidence because the Jenkinson you see at the moment is the Jenkinson who can play, but is not completely Jenkinson because he has no confidence. That will come back.

“He has not played for a long, long period. He had knee surgery after he had two shoulder surgeries and what he is going through at the moment is, for me, a bit normal but very difficult to live with for a player.

Today it is even more difficult because he gets quickly hammered by everybody on social media. Arsene Wenger on Carl Jenkinson

“Because you think you are there and you will only realise in six months that he is not completely there.

“And then you will play and realise you are not as good as you think you should be and you lose confidence. He is going through that period at the moment.

“The best way to help is to respect the fact to play when you are competitive. If you don't play them, and they are not completely ready mentally, it's even worse.