There’s probably still a Santi Cazorla-shaped hole in Arsenal’s attack.
Arsenal under Mikel Arteta aren’t noted for their goalscoring and certainly the Gunners have had creativity issues since the Spanish manager joined a little over two years ago.
Martin Odegaard has solved that to some extent but even still, the Norwegian lacks the same wizadry as a certain Cazorla.
The Spain international was released by the North Londoners in the summer of 2018 after six brilliant and yet injury-ravaged years under Arsene Wenger.
When fit, Cazorla – now 37 – was one of the Premier League’s most talented attackers and often used to take set pieces with both feet without a loss of precision on either.
Asked who the best player he faced in Arsenal training, Dejan Iliev, who left London Colney this month, revealed that it was the former Villarreal magician.
He told Goal: “It would probably be Santi Cazorla. He was amazing. His technique, he could use both feet, he could shoot from anywhere. It was very, very unpredictable. It was like he was from another world.”
Cazorla is the common answer when this question comes up.
Over at Tottenham, the answer is invariably Mousa Dembele when Spurs players past or present are asked about the best in training.
It seems ridiculous that Arsenal had Mesut Ozil and Cazorla in the same squad and if not for injuries to the latter, that could’ve been quite a devastating axis in attacking midfield.
Cazorla joined Villarreal after Arsenal and spent the next two years dazzling in La Liga – injury free – and ultimately got a recall to the Spain squad aged 34, which illustrates his ability.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
