Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Mathieu Debuchy will be out for three months after undergoing surgery on his left ankle.
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Debuchy, 29, collapsed to the ground unopposed late on during the Gunners' 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sept. 13 and was eventually stretchered off.
The France international took to Facebook last week to reveal he may need an operation, with Wenger announcing on Monday that the defender faces an extended spell on the sidelines after going under the knife.
"He has had surgery and will be out for three months," Wenger told Arsenal's official website. "A reasonable delay is three months.
"It all went well, but it can be a week or two earlier or a week or two later, but it will be around three months.
"It is a blow of course, how big it will be we will only know afterwards because it will be down to how well we replace him. We bought [Calum] Chambers for that."
Wenger is facing mounting problems in defence with 19-year-old Hector Bellerin forced to cover at right-back during Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday.
According to the Evening Standard, Nacho Monreal is set to miss the Gunners' next four games with a back problem, while fellow left-back Kieran Gibbs has also struggled with his fitness this season.
Arsenal are also short of options in the centre of defence after Wenger opted against bringing in a replacement for Thomas Vermaelen following his move to Barcelona in the summer.