Abou Diaby will be out for up to nine months after tearing a cruciate ligament.
A statement on the Arsenal website confirmed the midfielder, who has a long history of injury problems, damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in training on Wednesday.
The statement read: "Following consultations with specialists, Abou will undergo surgery to repair the injury in the near future. Abou is expected to be out for around eight to nine months.
"The thoughts and best wishes from everyone at Arsenal are with Abou, and we all wish him a successful recovery."
Diaby's latest injury means another long spell out of the game for a player who has been beset by problems since his ankle was broken in a challenge from Sunderland's Dan Smith in May 2006.
The France international was restricted to just five appearances last season, and a promising start to the current campaign was ruined by a thigh injury suffered against Chelsea in September.
Speaking in November about Diaby's ongoing problems, Arsene Wenger said: "I can tell you he has been everywhere in the world to be assessed. There is an explanation.
"He is quick, strong, has good stamina but his muscle strength is not good enough to deal with that. Sometimes little fibres go in his muscles, this is basically his problem.
"The second reason for his problems, of course, is his ankle. Since Sunderland, his mobility in his ankle has been affected."
A statement on the Arsenal website confirmed the midfielder, who has a long history of injury problems, damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in training on Wednesday.
The statement read: "Following consultations with specialists, Abou will undergo surgery to repair the injury in the near future. Abou is expected to be out for around eight to nine months.
"The thoughts and best wishes from everyone at Arsenal are with Abou, and we all wish him a successful recovery."
Diaby's latest injury means another long spell out of the game for a player who has been beset by problems since his ankle was broken in a challenge from Sunderland's Dan Smith in May 2006.
The France international was restricted to just five appearances last season, and a promising start to the current campaign was ruined by a thigh injury suffered against Chelsea in September.
Speaking in November about Diaby's ongoing problems, Arsene Wenger said: "I can tell you he has been everywhere in the world to be assessed. There is an explanation.
"He is quick, strong, has good stamina but his muscle strength is not good enough to deal with that. Sometimes little fibres go in his muscles, this is basically his problem.
"The second reason for his problems, of course, is his ankle. Since Sunderland, his mobility in his ankle has been affected."
