Arsenal manager Unai Emery has confirmed that Danny Welbeck faces a "long time" on the sidelines after undergoing ankle surgery on Friday.

The England international suffered a broken ankle when he landed awkwardly during Thursday's Europa League draw with Sporting Lisbon and will now spend another spell out of what has been an injury-plagued Arsenal career.

Emery stopped short of speculating whether Welbeck will return again this season, but the Spaniard did reveal that the forward faces a lengthy recovery process.

"His injury is a big injury. We spoke with him yesterday and today. We support him with our personal relationship between the player and the staff. I think he will not come to us for a long time," Emery told reporters.

"He had the operation on Friday. I think it's better if the doctors say to you [when he might return]. It's a big injury but the outcome... the doctor can answer that better than me."

Welbeck, whose Arsenal contract expires at the end of this season, had scored five goals for the Gunners in all competitions this term before his injury.