Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been gushing over one prior teammate at Arsenal.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who joined Liverpool in a £40 million deal from Arsenal in 2017, played alongside some very special players in North London.
The 28-year-old has shared the pitch with the likes of Robin van Persie and Alexis Sanchez.
Hell, he even trained alongside Thierry Henry after the legendary Frenchman’s return to the Gunners in 2012.
But the Liverpool midfielder has revealed that a certain Santi Cazorla is the player who impressed him most at London Colney.
The Spain international was released by Arsenal under Unai Emery shortly after Arsene Wenger left.
But during his pomp, when he was injury free, the little magician was among the North Londoners’ best players.
And Oxlade-Chamberlain has pointed to the fact that he would use both his left foot and right foot with consumate ease as an example of his mastery.
He told BBC Sport: “Santi Cazorla was probably one of the best. It was the tek. It was right foot, left foot, corners he’d take with his left, his right.
“We’d do free-kick practice or penalties and then after five minutes, you realise he was using his left foot. “You’d be like, ‘Santi, why?’, and he’d say, ‘This week I feel like my left foot is a bit better’
“I saw Santi do so many crazy things in the years I was at Arsenal with him.”
Tragedy
There’s a tragic element to Cazorla’s Arsenal career.
And it’s probably because the final two years of it were spent out injured, which came as a huge blow to Arsene Wenger.
The good news is that once leaving the Emirates, the 36-year-old had a couple of brilliant seasons at Villarreal after returning on a free transfer – and even earned further Spain caps, illustrating his form.
He now plies his trade in Qatar with Al Sadd.
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