Hey r/gunners
I have just listened to the Arsenal Sweden podcast where it has discussed among other things about popular Arsenal players who were perhaps worse in reality than what our fans have wanted them to be.
I heard names like Elneny, Hleb and Santi Cazorla and then I lost it! Santi Cazorla was not as good as Arsenal fans think he was! What??
The man is one of my favorite arsenal players Emirates era, a magician on a pitch. I’ve always believed that Santi Cazorla doesn’t get the recognition he truly deserves. His time in football was filled with moments of pure magic.
Do you agree with me or am I totaly wrong on this one? I’d love to hear your thoughts and memories of his time in football.
How would you rate Santi Cazorla’s skill and influence on the game?
What were some of your favorite moments or matches featuring him?
Do you think he’s often underrated or overlooked in discussions of top midfielders?
EDIT: I’m so happy to read the appreciation Santi deserves and I just wanted to add that I disagree with that podcast about Hleb as well but wanted only to focus on Cazorla in this one.
Hleb was so bad that Pep signed him for Barca
He had a whole career where he was highly rated at the highest level, not just arsenal.
People who say things like this either just want hot takes, don’t watch much football, or have something against arsenal
If Cazorla stayed injury free we’d have another 2 titles I’d say. He was hugely influential.
Absolute genius
He was the best player at the club between signing him and getting permacrocked. He was better than Ozil, better than Ramsey. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say he’s overrated before. Incredible player and he’d make the current 11 in his prime too, without doubt
I agree with you. Santi Cazorla had a sophisticated playing style. Two footed. Wasn’t the most physical tackler but he certainly made up for it with his ability to intercept a pass. The mistake was probably not pairing him up with another more physical CDM that was technically better than Coquelin and more athletic than Arteta.
He also had that serious, prolonged Achilles injury that almost ended his career. I kinda blame Arsene and the trainers for overplaying him. Then he had have some sort of tendon/muscle graft placed secondary to post op infection leading to sepsis. He essentially almost lost his foot. He was never the same after that unfortunate event.
Santi was good enough to get 81 caps for Spain during the time they had the best international side in history. I think he’s rated about right to be fair
I agree with you. Santi Cazorla had a sophisticated playing style. Two footed. Wasn’t the most physical tackler but he certainly made up for it with his ability to intercept a pass. The mistake was probably not pairing him up with another more physical CDM that was technically better than Coquelin and more athletic than Arteta.
He also had that serious, prolonged Achilles injury that almost ended his career. I kinda blame Arsene and the trainers for overplaying him. Then he had have some sort of tendon/muscle graft placed secondary to post op infection leading to sepsis. He essentially almost lost his foot. He was never the same after that unfortunate event.
Santi was good enough to get 81 caps for Spain during the time they had the best international side in history. I think he’s rated about right to be fair
If Cazorla stayed injury free we’d have another 2 titles I’d say. He was hugely influential.
The beginning of the downfall of Mesut Ozil as a world-class player happened when Santi got injured. I truly believe if we could have kept Santi healthy, we would have won/challenged for the league.
The beginning of the downfall of Mesut Ozil as a world-class player happened when Santi got injured. I truly believe if we could have kept Santi healthy, we would have won/challenged for the league.
The only thing he could be underrated is he missed quite games because of injury but still has been one of the most beloved player besides we don’t love Rosicky or Wilshere as much as him. About skill, seriously anyone who watched the game can’t doubt it.
The only thing he could be underrated is he missed quite games because of injury but still has been one of the most beloved player besides we don’t love Rosicky or Wilshere as much as him. About skill, seriously anyone who watched the game can’t doubt it.
Cazorla is imo the best footballer of the Emirates era, what a player he was.