Arsene Wenger has revealed that Santi Cazorla may not be fit enough to face Liverpool on the opening day of the season as the midfielder continues to recover fully from a knee injury that wrecked last season for him.

Speaking to the media after his side’s 3-1 win over Chivas Guadalajara in the early hours of Monday morning, Wenger said about the Spanish wizard, “He is our technical security in midfield and we missed him for five or six months last season.

“At the moment he is not completely there on the fitness front. That’s why I took him off at half-time.

“He’s a bit behind the others physically but I think he will be alright, maybe not on August 15th [sic], but at the end of August he should be alright.”

Santi Cazorla (L) and Chivas Guadalajara midfielder Lazaro Josue (R) fight for a head ball during their friendly soccer match at StubHub Center in Carson, California on July 31, 2016. Arsenal won 3-1. / AFP / RINGO CHIU
Santi Cazorla (L) and Chivas Guadalajara midfielder Lazaro Josue (R) fight for a head ball during their friendly soccer match at StubHub Center in Carson, California on July 31, 2016. Arsenal won 3-1. / AFP / RINGO CHIU

Somebody should probably tell Arsene we play on 14th.

Santi isn’t the only one who could be absent either, with players still to return to training after the Euros, Wenger will have a few decisions to make. Also, in light of Per Mertesacker’s injury and with no new arrival sorted, Wenger will turn to one of Kristian Bielik, Calum Chambers or Rob Holding for the game.

He added, “At the moment we have Per Mertesacker out and we have Laurent Koscielny still on holiday, plus Gabriel. One of them will play at the start of the season or at least be in the squad. At the moment I have a look at everybody and after I will make my final decision.

“But as you just said, it’s true that Holding adapted very quickly. All the three have top quality and all the three miss a little bit of experience. I’ll have to make a decision in two weeks.”