Arsene Wenger has refused to rule out offering crocked Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla a new contract if he can prove his fitness before the end of the season.
The 33-year-old has not featured for the Gunners since October 2016 and admitted in January that a return early in 2018-19 is likely to be the best that he can hope for.
Fan favourite Cazorla underwent a 10th operation to rectify a long-running Achilles injury at the end of last year, which he feared would see him lose his ankle due to the risk of infection.
Wenger admits that he has not spoken to the Spaniard in close to two months, but would love to have a fully-fit Cazorla back involved next season.
"I haven't seen Santi since the League Cup final, but the last news I heard is that he's doing very well", he told reporters. "Hopefully he can come back before the end of the season to make a check up to see if he can play again in the Premier League.
"If he could reach that level we would discuss a contract. We miss him a lot, you know. I've not spoken about it much, because he has not been the story of the day, but we missed him a lot. He is an exceptional football player and it is very sad what happened to him. It's very sad for Arsenal as well."
Cazorla is due to see his current deal expire this summer after six years in North London.
Daniel Lewis
