Arsene Wenger will not search for Santi Cazorla replacement in January

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that he will not jump into the January transfer market to find a replacement for injured Santi Cazorla.

The midfielder is expected to miss the next three months as he requires surgery on an Achilles injury.

The prognosis was initially not expected to be serious after the Spaniard suffered the problem during the Gunners' 6-0 win over Ludogorets Razgrad on October 19.

However, due to the inflammation failing to ease, the last resort of surgery has had to be taken by the Premier League club.

In Friday's press conference, Wenger described the injury blow as "very bad news", but has claimed that he will not look for cover when the transfer window reopens next month

"In midfield we have many players, but there's two reasons [for not buying a replacement]. We have the numbers in quality. Secondly, in January, you wouldn't necessarily find a Cazorla even if you wanted to," Wenger told reporters.

Meanwhile, Mathieu Debuchy has been ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring injury.