Santi Cazorla

Santi Cazorla stars in Arsenal's midfield

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Santi Cazorla is showing how much Arsenal missed the midfielder last season with his excellent start to the 2016-2017 campaign

In just four matches Santi Cazorla is showing Arsenal fans what the team was missing most of last season. The diminutive Spanish midfielder has easily been Arsenal’s most valuable player thus far.

Cazorla’s 2015-2016 campaign was one he’d soon like to forget. He suffered knee ligament damage in a November match at Norwich and was ruled out for months. He did not return to action until May when he played in Arsenal’s last home game against Aston Villa.

Now back in the lineup and healthy, Cazorla appears to be making up for lost time. He came on as a substitute in the 61st minute of the Gunner’s opening match at home to Liverpool. Despite being on the end of a 3-4 loss, Cazorla provided two assists in less than a half an hour.

With Arsenal only picking up one point from the first two matches the team was in desperate need of a victory at home to Watford two weeks ago. Cazorla scored Arsenal’s opening goal by converting a ninth minute penalty. Arsenal went on to win 3-1.

Against Southampton, Cazorla scored his second goal of the campaign. Once again it came from the penalty spot. This time, however, it was in stoppage time with a mountain of pressure upon him. It proved no problem. Five-foot-five Cazorla calmly sent Southampton’s six-foot-seven keeper Fraser Forster the wrong way and Arsenal came away with all three points.

In addition to netting the winner versus Southampton, Cazorla bossed the match. He was at the center of everything that Arsenal created. He was so dominant in midfield, that he even made Mesut Ozil look rather pedestrian.

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Cazorla pitched in on defensive duties as well, tracking back a number of time to clear any Southampton danger.

The Spaniard is quick in his decision-making and his accurate passing greatly helps out his defense. Perhaps it’s due to his closeness to the ground, but Cazorla is a great dribbler with excellent ball retention.

If Cazorla can remain on the pitch, it will be interesting to see his statistics come the end of the season.

Before his injury last November, the Daily Mail ran a story calling Cazorla the “pass master”. He was the first player last season to complete more than 1000 passes. At the time, Cazorla’s pass completion rate was tops in the league at 90.3%.

Arsenal’s midfield is one of the most solid units in the entire league with names like Ozil, Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny, Francis Coquelin and Aaron Ramsey. They of course are all important to Arsenal’s success. However, it may be Cazorla’s name that should be at the top of Arsene Wenger’s weekly team lineup card.