Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy will be out for around three months following surgery on an ankle injury, manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed.

Debuchy, signed from Newcastle for £12million in the summer, was taken off after catching his studs in the turf against Manchester City on September 13.

It had been hoped the full extent of the injury would not prove severe, but the France full-back now faces an extended spell on the sidelines.

Speaking to Arsenal Media, Wenger said: "He had surgery on Friday and will be out for three months. A reasonable delay is three months.

"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."

Chambers is, along with Hector Bellerin, expected to feature for Tuesday night's Capital One Cup tie against his old club Southampton at the Emirates Stadium.