Last season was by far the closest Arsenal had ever come to winning the title since 2004, but all that fell apart just before Christmas, all thanks to an injury to CazorlaA

And many Arsenal fans agreed to the fact that it all was because of one injury. One player who meant so much to the team, that without him the entire campaign collapsed. ABecause till November, Arsenal were doing brilliantly, they were winning and beat top tier teams, getting valuable points with some ease but all that changed after November. Then came that horrible knee injury and Santi Cazorlaas season was over, well not exactly but an Achilles tear changed that.

At 10 million, he was a steal
At 10 million, he was a steal

 

The little magician had arrived from Malaga in 2012, and although he started as a winger, his lack of speed meant that his preferred position was given to players like Walcott, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain and even Gervinho. But then Wenger saw that the little man had other skills, skills that were missing since a certain Spaniard had left Arsenal for Barcelona. So he tried him out as a central midfielder and boy oh boy, did Cazorla flourish. The Spaniard won Arsenalas player of the year and the fact that he assisted 14 goals and scored 12 did help with the fans.

Even though the 31 year old was limited to a mere 15 appearances last season, he still created more chances than every other Arsenal player bar superstar playmaker Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. And given the fact that he is nearly fully fit for this season, all that remains is for Arsene to find him a permanent place in the starting 11. But considering the players sitting on the midfield bench for the Gunners, that may be easier said than done.

Carzola and Coquelin, a formidable pair indeed
Cazorla and Coquelin, a formidable pair indeed

 

Santi Cazorla is a technically brilliant player with the ability to hit a ball anywhere from range, an ability that Arsenal has lacked in the last few years. He also happens to have incredible passing range, and is able to play long range passes or even short tiki taka passes in the middle of the field. Other than that he has the ability to control the midfield like a Maestro that conducts an orchestra. And like the Italian maestro Andrea Pirlo, Santi also plays as a deep lying playmaker and combined with Francis Coquelin to provide back up for him, he flourishes. Then Mesut Ozil arrived a little over two years ago, together the three of them have managed to create an extremely strong partnership. Santi even went on to say, a?It’s too easy to play alongside them, no? Mesut is one of the best players in the world. Coquelin is a young player, but he has a great future for Arsenal and for [France’s] national team.a

The Spaniard wasnat selected for the Euros and that means that he was fit enough to play although he did not start the first game. He came on with less than half an hour to play and managed to give the Gunners a fighting chance as he was the creator behind both second half goals for Arsenal. He played in the number 10 position which lies behind the striker and thus gives the playmaker chances to put one in the back of the net himself, as Cazorla showed he could during preseason. A position that is Santi Cazorolaas till Ozil comes back from his Euro break.

a?It’s a different role, no?a Santi explained in an interview. a?Because when you play behind the striker, you have a little bit more possibility to make a score, no?a

a?Now it’s different because it’s another position. Maybe I am a little bit far away from goal to score, but I need to make things smoother for the team.a

The ongoing season will be an important one from any Arsenal fan, player or coach as they have to do better than a second place finish. It just has to be done, and with multiple players already injured including Aaron Ramsey, Alex Iwobi, and Danny Welbeck among the wounded soldiers. Wenger will have to make extra sure that nobody else falls to the ground clutching another body part in pain.

Santi Carzola during the 2015-2016 season
Santi Cazorla during the 2015-2016 season

 

Especially Santi Cazorla because there is literally no one else to play in that position. No other player who can really become the maestro that Arsenal really needed towards the back end of last season. With a fit Santi Cazorla, Arsenal has a weapon that can help them challenge for the title, but then again we did need a striker too right??

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