Why Arsenal’s new Santi Cazorla is blowing Bukayo Saka away

Santi Cazorla by no means bought to say goodbye to Arsenal. The best way during which his profession on the Emirates Stadium ended was heartbreaking.

What was the difficulty? Effectively, after a interval of harm hell and being instructed he could by no means stroll once more, he was compelled to depart north London behind.

What occurred? Cazorla cracked a bone in his ankle and suffered knee ligament harm in November 2015. He performed in growing ache till October 2016 when he was withdrawn throughout a match in opposition to Ludogorets.

The nice Arsene Wenger admitted on the time that it wasn’t a “large harm” however remarkably, he was by no means seen in an Arsenal shirt once more. Following surgical procedure, a horrible an infection impacted his proper ankle that wasn’t mounted till a pores and skin graft happened.

Calling himself “a jigsaw puzzle”, Cazorla has a little bit of his left forearm on his proper ankle, a bit of thigh as a replacement and the again of a leg on one heel. It is grotesque however a lot to the participant’s pleasure, it saved him enjoying into his fortieth yr at Actual Oviedo.

Why Arsenal nonetheless lengthy for a participant like Santi Cazorla

Whereas Cazorla’s keep led to tears, he’s remembered fondly by these on the Emirates as one of many biggest technicians Arsenal have ever had. They merely do not make them like Santi anymore.

He was slender, he was slight, he was the definition of a contemporary quantity 10. Consider your Kevin De Bruynes, your David Silvas, in his prime, Cazorla was proper up there.

Since he departed in 2018, the Gunners have arguably struggled to switch him. Wenger, Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta did have Mesut Ozil of their ranks at one stage and whereas he is among the finest creators to have ever performed the sport, he did not fairly have the identical grace or dribbling capability as Mr Cazorla.

After Ozil’s departure in 2021, Arsenal have cycled by way of a number of quantity 10s from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Dani Ceballos, Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira.

Within the modern-day, it’s Martin Odegaard who maybe finest resembles a main Cazorla. Just like the Spaniard, he is inventive, he is a goalscorer, however he is not fairly as constant because the Spaniard.

REUTERS/Tony O Brien

The skipper as soon as scored 15 objectives in a single season all through 2022/23 and has fired residence 4 instances already this marketing campaign. Nonetheless, final time period, Odegaard netted simply as soon as in all competitions.

Because of this, the fanbase nonetheless lengthy for a participant of Cazorla’s genius. Effectively, maybe that participant is now starting to look.

Arsenal’s new Santi Cazorla is beginning to emerge

Regardless of being the Arsenal captain, there was a way over the summer season that this season could possibly be final likelihood saloon for Odegaard.

Certain, Arteta’s aspect gained the league in 2025/26 however they didn’t get a lot assist from the Norwegian alongside the way in which. Each type and health bought in the way in which of a productive marketing campaign.

Over the previous couple of years, Arsenal followers have lusted after that Cazorla determine, they’ve wanted an attacking midfielder who’s not simply able to offering but in addition scoring objectives.

Manchester Metropolis loved wealthy success with De Bruyne within the quantity 10 position as a result of he scored so ceaselessly. In 5 of his 9 full seasons on the Etihad, the good Belgian registered double figures for objectives.

So, if it is not to be Odegaard, how can Arsenal discover that determine? They needed to signal Morgan Rogers over the summer season however he finally headed to Chelsea in a mega £117m switch. So, that one is off the desk.

How about Max Dowman? You all know who he’s, you all understand how gifted he’s, however might this be Arsenal’s modern-day Cazorla? Fairly probably.

It is outstanding to assume this child remains to be solely 16 years of age. He’s the second-youngest participant of all time within the Premier League, he’s the youngest scorer within the competitors’s historical past and he already has a winner’s medal to his title.

That each one occurred earlier than {the teenager} had even handed his GSCE’s. Effectively, he posed along with his outcomes over the summer season and now the main focus is again on soccer, moderately than exams.

He has solely performed as soon as this time period however his influence was devastating, scoring two objectives throughout a Cazorla-esque show away at Ipswich City within the Carabao Cup.

Very similar to the Spaniard, the teenager is a marvel with the ball at his toes. The best way he dribbles resembles Cazorla, the way in which he manipulates the ball and will get out of tight areas may be very alike. He is additionally very sturdy off each toes. That was one thing Arsenal’s former quantity 19 was famed for.

Already in comparison with Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, the sky actually does really feel just like the restrict for somebody who has been blowing away his teammates behind the scenes.

Talking final yr, Declan Rice admitted: “I’ve had so many texts about Max just lately. At 15, there may be such a protracted solution to go. You will be the perfect 15-year-old within the nation, however it would not essentially imply you will be at 18.

“So, it is advisable to be hungry, maintain working and maintain pushing. I communicate to Max rather a lot and he has bought such a superb household round him. He’s unreal.”

A sure Bukayo Saka has additionally waxed lyrical concerning the teen. This season, the winger stated: “His expertise is insane. It is as much as him how far he will go in soccer. That is what I might say. However, sure, his expertise, it is loopy.”

The best way during which Dowman has burst onto the scene is jaw-dropping. Whereas Arteta is rightfully being cautious of overusing him, it will not be lengthy earlier than he is beginning common video games for the Premier League champions.

It was on the best the place he made a huge impact final season however it was within the quantity 10 position that he tore Ipswich to shreds a matter of weeks in the past. That is the place Cazorla discovered a house for himself and it is the place Dowman’s long-term future certainly lies.

He is bought the dazzling strategy of a main Cazorla, the dribbling capability of Messi and the goalscoring capability of peak De Bruyne. He’s simply the perfect 16-year-old in world soccer. No strain, then.