Andre Santos to Undergo Ankle Surgery, Arsenal Fullback Faces Three Months Out of Action

Andre Santos faces three months out of action after scans revealed his injured ankle requires surgery to repair damaged ligaments. The Arsenal fullback hobbled out of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League loss to Olympiacos, according to Arsenal.com.

“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 sustained in the game against Olympiacos last week,” a club statement read.

“Andre will have surgery in Brazil this week and is expected to be out for around three months.”

Santos fell awkwardly while attempting a clearance in the 51st minute of Tuesday’s game. 

The attack-minded fullback has scored two goals in 14 games for the Gunners since making a £6 million ($9.4 million) transfer from Turkish club Fenerbahce.

The news only compounds Arsenal’s injury problems, which have struck the fullback positions particularly hard. Santos was the only healthy left back in the first team. Kieran Gibbs has been out since mid-October with a hernia. The club hopes he will return by the end of the month, but that is not certain.

Center back Thomas Vermaelen played left back in Saturday’s victory over Everton, and could man the position for the forseeable future. 

Right backs Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson suffered long-term injuries in October and will not return until January at the earliest.

Photo via Flickr/wonker