Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has paid a glowing tribute to Santi Cazorla on his birthday.

Cazorla turned 33 on Wednesday.

The Spain international hasn't played for since being substituted in a 6-0 Champions League win over Ludogorets in September 2016, and he was recently told that he will need further surgery on his Achilles injury.

“Santi is one of the best players I've had in my career and when you lose a player of that stature, it's an absolutely immense [loss]," the manager told Arsenal Player. “He is the player where everybody on the pitch could give the ball to when they had a problem, and he transformed a normal ball into a fantastic ball.

“He's a magician, Santi Cazorla. When you lose a magician, you lose some happiness in your life. Santi Cazorla smiles every day, he's a happy man and we all suffer for him.

“We did not only lose an exceptional player until now, but as well a happy man, who was in a good mood every day and very positive with everybody. That's difficult, on top of that."