Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck is expected to be out until the end of the year after undergoing knee surgery.
The Englishman last featured for the Gunners in April and was initially expected to return at the start of this month.
But a statement published on the club's official website revealed that he will be out of action for "a period of months".
"Danny Welbeck has undergone surgery on his left knee after being unable to sufficiently step up his rehabilitation work," the statement says.
"The striker has been working throughout the summer to recover from the injury sustained at the end of April.
"It had been hoped he would avoid surgery but after increasing his training workload, the injury to his cartilage did not respond as well as hoped and the decision was taken last week for him to undergo surgery by a leading specialist in the field.
"Danny is now expected to be out for a period of months and everyone at Arsenal wishes him well."
