Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed that midfielder Aaron Ramsey is not due back from a hamstring injury until 2018.
On Monday, Ramsey was seen doing fitness work with the rest of the first-team squad ahead of Tuesday's EFL Cup quarter-final with West Ham United.
However, Wenger has insisted that he does not expect the Welshman to play any part over the Christmas period as he continues to recover from the the issue that he sustained in the 1-1 draw with Southampton on December 10.
The Frenchman is quoted by the club's official website as saying: "Ramsey was out running [on Monday] but he will not be back in the next 10 days.
"For him, the beginning of January is more likely."
Shkodran Mustafi has also returned to training after a thigh problem, but the German defender will also not feature against the Hammers.
