Arsenal chiefs haven't ruled out handing long-term injury victim Santi Cazorla a new contract.
Cazorla has not played for Arsenal since October 2016 after suffering Achilles and ankle problems which have required 10 different operations.
However, when asked whether Cazorla will be assessed with a view to offering him an extension manager Arsene 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."