A long term injury is one that keeps a player out of action for a month or more. (arsenalarsenal.net)
Although initially ruled out of action until 2015, the Gunners star has made excellent progress in his recovery, and will return to action far earlier than that first diagnosis suggested. (caughtoffside.com)
And he has been below par since coming back from his two months out of action with injury. (justarsenal.com)