Arsene Wenger has confirmed Arsenal midfielder Santi Carzola will be sidelined for four months after having surgery on his injured knee.

Carzola suffered ligament damage in his knee during Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Norwich City last weekend.

"We (the prognosis) know now. It has happened already. It's not the season. It is at least three months, maybe four," Wenger said.

"Santi wanted to have a chance to come back quickly so he didn't want to last too long for 25 opinions and he decided to go straight away.

"The guy said, 'look it's a clear case, it's a rupture of the external knee ligament'. And he said 'Okay, let's do it straight away'."