Santi Cazorla
Cazorla has not played since November after suffering a knee injury. Getty

Arsenal star Santi Cazorla says he is eager to return to action after the upcoming international break at the end of this month. Speaking ahead of the Gunners trip to Barcelona on Wednesday night for the Champions League second leg last 16, the Spaniard has also conceded that the Gunners need a "miracle" to turn round the 2-0 deficit at the Nou Camp.

Cazorla has been out of action since December undergoing surgery after rupturing his external knee ligament during the 1-1 draw with Norwich City on 29 November. The 31-year-old midfielder wanted to return to action for the second leg against Barcelona but was forced to delay his comeback a few weeks after picking up an Achilles injury. The Spanish international is cautious about his recovery but hopes to be available again after the international break, meaning that he could be available for the Gunners bid to fight for the Premier League in the last games of the season.

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"I hope to return after the international break," he told Cadena Cope. "I'm crazy to get back. I cannot wait any more. After all this time with the knee injury, it then emerged that I had a problem with the Achilles which has just made me more eager to return. The knee is fine but I have to be patient with the Achilles which is delaying my comeback a little more. But I hope everything goes well and |I will be there again with the team after the international break."

Cazorla has been just one of a number of casualties at the Emirates during the season, along with Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck, Mikel Arteta, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Thomas Rosicky missing much of the campaign.

The Spaniard is struggling to find an explanation to the Arsenal 'plague of injuries' but admits that some things might not be done in the right way.

"I asked myself that question too," he said when asked about the number of injuries in the squad. "Because, apart from this season, I have not suffered many injuries. But every year we have many casualties and it makes it difficult to fight for the titles. Wilshere, Walcott, Ramsey, Koscielny... They are important players and without them it is difficult to fight with big teams like Untied, Chelsea or City. And every year is the same. We need to have a look at that. There are surely a host of reasons: many times is bad luck but surely some things are not doing right. Hopefully it changes in the future if we want to fight for titles."

The Spaniard, meanwhile, expressed his disappointment over the FA Cup elimination against Watford but hopes his side to respond with "miracle" against Barcelona to go through the Champions League quarter final.

"We need to be brave. It is clear that we have little to lose but we cannot go crazy either because Barcelona have a very good attack and can score many goals. We must try to score an early goal and see if there's some way [to turn around the tie]. It will be difficult. We are aware that it is very complicated. We face the best team in the world and with an adverse result. We need almost miracle but we must try to do it."