The Gunners’ loss to Manchester City highlighted the absence of Santi Cazorla once more.
Arsenal’s loss to Manchester City in their final game before Christmas, was perhaps the biggest indication yet that The Gunners have struggled without their key men.
Not either of their talismanic duo of Mesut Ozil or Alexis Sanchez. Nor the absence of Shkodran Mustafi in defence. No, the defeat in Manchester screamed out for Santi Cazorla once again.
Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla in action with Burnley’s George Boyd
Since the Spaniard suffered an injury in against FC Basel in October, Arsene Wenger has been without his midfield maestro. As with any key player, his impact has been felt more in his absence than a fan could ever have imagined.
Having negotiated November’s treacherous psychological run remaining with just the one league loss, back to back defeats have cast a rather glum picture for Arsenal without their own Santi Claus.
Without Cazorla, The Gunners lack a certain something which is quite difficult to pin down. Is it his silky passing, composure and almost unique presence in central midfield? By looking at his numbers the picture becomes a little clearer.
As per WhoScored, Santi Cazorla has the third-highest rate of key passes per game to only Sanchez and Ozil, however both his attempted pass and completed pass success rates ratio are the highest – albeit having played over 50% less of league outings.
Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla scores their second goal from the penalty spot
Perhaps the biggest tell is the lack of long balls coming from the Arsenal midfield. Before his injury, the Spaniard racked two and a half long balls per game.
Cazorla found his niche in The Gunners’ set up with Francis Coquelin and without one another, Wenger’s midfield labours from both a lack of creativity and an almost invisible shield in front of the back line.
So far this campaign, 44% of Arsenal’s attack have come centrally and this is where the former Malaga and Villarreal player’s void leaves a chasm by comparison, with a higher majority of 61% of shots from the middle of the field – an element which his side have notably lacked.
Before Santi Cazorla suffered his injury, Arsene Wenger’s men had won nine out of 12 games in all competitions; In his absence, seven in 14. Just a 50% win rate down from 75%.
Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates
Remarkably, a fully-fit Spaniard continues to be linked with a move away from the club, with Juventus reportedly circling, as reported by The Mirror.
As Arsenal’s mental frailties unerringly surface again, thoughts of such an occurrence fill the Gunners fan base with a sense of dread. His latest absence should determine a longer stay in North London.
Cazorla remains over two months away from returning from achilles surgery on an injured plantanis is his heel. His return cannot come soon enough for suffering Arsenal fans, in the face of more domestic frustration.
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