Arsenal's Santi Cazorla hoping to return to action for 2019

Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla has admitted he has considered “throwing in the towel” during his efforts to recover from an ankle injury but is still hoping to return to action for 2019.

The midfielder, 33, has been unavailable for selection since October 2016 having undergone the 10th operation of his career. Through a succession of surgeries the Spaniard has lost eight centimetres from the tendon in his right ankle.

Cazorla has yet to be offered an extension by Arsenal, with his current contract set to expire in the summer, but the player remains confident he will be able to return to top-flight football at some point in the future.

"There have been moments when I've thought about throwing in the towel. I've thought things like 'maybe it is not worth continuing'," the Spain international told RTVE.

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"If things go well, maybe next year I can play at the top level again.

"The last surgery was seven weeks ago, and my tenth in total. The first surgery was risky because I took many corticosteroids and the skin deteriorated.

"Then a skin graft was proposed and after that, the infection ate my tendon."