Andre Santos injury blow for Arsenal

Andre Santos will be out for three months (GETTY IMAGES)

Andre Santos is to undergo ankle surgery and will miss the next three months, Arsenal have revealed.

The defender suffered ligament damage during the 3-1 defeat to Olympiakos last week and looks set to be out until March.

"Arsenal Football Club can confirm that, following investigations and subsequent medical opinions by club specialists, left-back Andre Santos will have surgery to repair ligament damage in his right ankle," the club said in a statement on their website (www.arsenal.com).

It continued, "Andre will have surgery in Brazil this week and is expected to be out for around three months. Everyone at the club wishes him well."

The news leaves Arsene Wenger with further headaches at left-back, with Bacary Sanga, Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson all out injured.

Sanga and Jenkinson are likely to be out well into the new year, with Gibbs still a few weeks away from full fitness.

Santos is a £6.8m summer signing from Fenerbache and has made 14 appearances for the club – scoring in their 5-3 win at Chelsea in October.