Arsenal's Andre Santos ruled out for three months

Image caption, Santos faces a spell on the sidelines with an ankle problem

Arsenal left-back Andre Santos has been ruled out of action for three months with the ankle injury he picked up against Olympiakos.

The 28-year-old will require surgery after being forced off after 51 minutes .

The Gunners have confirmed Santos will have ligament damage in his right ankle repaired in Brazil this week.

Full-backs Carl Jenkinson, Kieran Gibbs and Bacary Sagna are already injured.

Gibbs is and is not expected to return for at least another fortnight, while Jenkinson is out with a stress fracture to his back.

Sagna broke his leg in a defeat by Tottenham in October.

Thomas Vermaelen lined up at left-back in Saturday's 1-0 win over Everton as Arsenal fielded a back four made up entirely of central defenders.

Santos, who has 22 caps for Brazil, moved to the Gunners this summer from Turkish side Fenerbahce in a 拢6m deal.