Gibbs has made seven appearances for Arsenal this season

Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs is to undergo surgery on his injured foot on Friday and will miss the remainder of the season, the club have confirmed.

Gibbs fractured a metatarsal in his left foot in a challenge with Standard Liege's Eliaquim Mangala during a Champions League match in November.

The fracture has failed to heal satisfactorily and he will have a bone graft to help ensure a full recovery.

The 20-year-old's rehabilitation is expected to take up to five months.

"Needless to say I'm gutted - there's just no other word," the England Under-21 international told the Official Arsenal Magazine.

"The alternative option to surgery would have been to wait and let the bone grow in my foot, but we didn't want to do that because I'd have to wait another six weeks just to have another scan.

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"I'd run the risk of it carrying on into next season, and we don't want to do that.

"I'm now just looking to recover from the injury, work really hard and be ready for next season."

Left-back Gibbs played seven times for Arsenal this campaign prior to the depressed open fracture injury suffered in the European game at the Emirates on 23 November.

Gibbs had been suggested as a potential member of Fabio Capello's England squad for the World Cup in South Africa this summer, but the timescale of his recovery rules him out of the tournament, which begins on 11 June.

Arsenal have cover at left-back with French youngster Armand Traore backing up first-choice Gael Clichy.

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