Arsenal will be without star Alexis Sanchez for another three weeks, manager Arsene Wenger said after Monday's 2-1 win over Manchester City.
Sanchez has been out since November with a hamstring injury, and though he recently returned to training he was left out of the squad at the Emirates on Monday night.
And Wenger revealed after the game that the Chile international would remain out into the new year.
"Sanchez will be back around Jan. 10. We can't count on him around the Christmas period. He's had a very slight setback," Wenger said.
"It was planned for him to be on the bench for City. He's so keen, but he got a little pain in training two days ago and we haven't taken a gamble."
The 27-year-old has shone for Arsenal with nine goals in 20 games in all competitions.
But he will miss Premier League games against Southampton, Bournemouth and Newcastle, as well as the FA Cup clash with Sunderland.
Arsenal's next game after Wenger's Jan. 10 timeframe is away to Liverpool on Jan. 13.