Arsène Wenger has said Santi Cazorla will be out for another three or four weeks as the Arsenal midfielder strives to play again before the end of the season.

Cazorla has not been involved since he ruptured the lateral collateral ligament in a knee at Norwich City last November and Wenger said on 1 March the Spaniard had suffered a setback in training, having felt a reaction in his achilles. In that interview, Wenger reported Cazorla was suffering from “a little tendinitis in his achilles” and dodged the question of whether the 31-year-old was looking at an April return date. The manager painted a bleak picture when he said Cazorla was “not doing too well”.

It prompted the player to tweet that he was “surprised by the piece of news in the press” and that his rehabilitation was going to plan. “I will be ready on 1 April,” he wrote.

Wenger’s latest update, however, has ruled Cazorla out for most of April. “Santi is running again outside so it should be three to four weeks more training‚” he said.

The manager added that Jack Wilshere had finally returned to full training this week and “the first signs are quite good”. Wilshere has not played all season because of a fractured fibula. Tomas Rosicky (thigh) is also back in full training.

Arsenal face Watford at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon and Wenger said Petr Cech, who is coming back from a calf injury, may not be ready to return to competitive action. Meanwhile Aaron Ramsey (thigh), Mathieu Flamini (hamstring) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) are unavailable.