Forward Lucas Perez sustained ankle-ligament damage confining him to the sidelines for eight weeks, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed.

Perez, who joined the club from Deportivo La Coruna in the last transfer window, has impressed despite having little game time due to the superb form of Arsenal’s established attackers.

The player was injured in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Reading in the EFL Cup this past Tuesday, and Wenger confirmed the star’s unfortunate lay-off at a press conference before their clash with Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday.

‘We’re going to be missing him for a few weeks,’ Wenger said according to Goal. ‘It’s very frustrating, he’s absolutely gutted because it’s a stupid injury that’s come from nowhere, a deliberate kick. He will be out for six to eight weeks.

‘I think it was more a frustrated reaction from the player, but you have to deal with that. In this case, it’s unfortunate.’

The Gunners have been in superb form following their defeat to Liverpool on the opening day of the season and are now unbeaten after 13 successive games.

The clash with the Black Cats will take place at the Stadium of Light on Saturday and kick-off is at 13:30.