Santi: I lost 8cm of my Achilles in injury agony
ARSENAL star Santi Cazorla has revealed doctors told him he should be happy just to walk again after an infection ravaged his Achilles tendon.
But the Spanish star insists he’s now on the mend and has targeted a return in the new year.
Cazorla’s problems began back in 2013 and he has undergone eight operations on his Achilles.
He admitted to crying in pain as he tried to battle the injury while still turning out for the Gunners.
And Cazorla was left stunned when Spanish specialist Dr Mikel Sanchez revealed eight centimetres of his Achilles had been eaten away by the infection.
The 32-year-old said: “He saw that I had a tremendous infection. It had damaged part of the heel bone and had eaten eight centimetres of the Achilles tendon.”
The playmaker has not pulled on an Arsenal shirt for a year but played through the pain before the injury became unbearable.
Cazorla told Spanish newspaper Marca: “In the early stages it was feeling a little better. If I got warmed up I could play but at the break, when I cooled down, I would cry.
“At that time I was still playing and the doctors told me it was OK.
“The problem was it did not heal and the wounds would reopen and then become infected.
“If you’re able to walk in the garden with your son again then you should be satisfied they told me.”
Despite his agony Cazorla is keen to return in 2018 after admitting being away from his family had proven to be the toughest part of his recovery.
He said: “I won’t be registered until January but I will be back by then.
“My family are still in London because my children have started school there. Being alone without them is the hardest thing.”
Boss Arsene Wenger is also hopeful Cazorla will return in the new year.
He said: ‘The flexibility of his ankle and his mobility looks good.
“It’s now about getting back to full fitness without setbacks. After Christmas I hope he will be available. He has not played for over a year but it looks positive.”