ARSENE WENGER says Arsenal could yet offer Santi Cazorla a new contract – if he finally returns from his injury hell.

But Wenger is still waiting to see if Jack Wilshere will accept a new deal on a reduced wage.

On Cazorla, who has been sidelined by a horrific Achilles problem since October 2016, the Arsenal boss said: “I have not seen him since the League Cup final because he has gone back to make his rehab.

“But the last news I heard is that he is doing very well, so I hope that certainly he will come back before the end of the season and we can make a check-up of where he stands.

“Can he play again in the Premier League? I don't know, I have to see how he responds to his injury.

“I hope yes, but I don't know.”

If Cazorla proved he was fit to play at the top level again, though, would Arsenal be prepared to offer him a new contract to replace the one which expires this summer?

Wenger said: “Yes, of course. We miss him a lot.

“I never spoke about it or not many times, as he was not the subject of the day.

“But we have missed him a lot in our game.

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“He is an exceptional football player and it is very sad what happened to him, and very sad for Arsenal as well.”

Wilshere is a doubt for Sunday’s home game against West Ham because of an ankle problem.

It is because of Wilshere’s injury record that the new deal on offer from Arsenal has a lower basic wage, with extra payments based on appearances and achievements.

When it was suggested that Arsenal should just pay Wilshere what he wanted, Wenger said: “If you think like that, there’s no limitations anywhere.

“As a club. you want the players to stay and to be paid well, and I believe that everybody would agree that we pay our players very well.

“I don’t really know what is in his mind.

“I can just update you by saying that until now he has not signed. He has an offer and we want him to stay.

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