Arsenal’s current season MVP, Santi Cazorla, is out of contract next summer. So where does his future in North London stand?
Arsenal witnessed a complete masterclass from their little Spanish magician against Southampton. He was a wizard on and off the ball and never looked anything less than superb.
To give an indication of his on-the-ball presence, consider this: No one touched the ball more than Cazorla (109 touches) and he only lost the ball once. Add to that his 92% pass completion and three created chances and you can see the very model of the perfect midfielder.
Not only that, but Cazorla was a master on the defense, matching Francis Coquelin’s four interceptions, including one crucial interception on a Southampton break to stop a potential goal scoring opportunity.
This season, Cazorla has simply been magnificent. There is no other way to look at it. You tend to forget how special he is to the club when he misses most of a year due to injury, but it is always clear as day that he can make or break a match.
Which brings me to a question I can’t seem to wrap my head around (and I’ve tried). Where does Santi Cazorla’s future lie? I have endeavored to make sense of it using what logic I can muster as well as context clues.
Among the Ozil, Alexis and Koscielny contract talks, there is no mention of Cazorla. He will be 32 when his contract runs its course next summer and we really should try to start making sense of where Cazorla’s future lies.
We have seen many other try the role that Cazorla plays – namely Aaron Ramsey and Mohamed Elneny. Neither one can manage quite the same effect with it’s consistency. Ramsey’s high points top Cazorla’s, but you really never know when his high points will come.
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As I mentioned not long ago, there also has to be consideration for Jon Toral and Jack Wilshere, both of whom will be hoping to return next year and take the spot that Cazorla is supposedly going to vacate.
But is it in Arsenal’s best interest to let the Spaniard return to his homeland and let the could-have-been wonder twins of Ramsey and Wilshere take a stab? Jon Toral undoubtedly deserves a chance, but at the expense of losing Cazorla?
Simply put, the little wizard is not showing any wear with age. If anything, he seems to be taking on a Koscielny-like trait of improving with age. So why not ride that out as far as it can go? Get this man a contract. Letting him go on a free is a mistake and, assuming this season continues on the path it’s going, letting him go at all may be a mistake.
Cazorla isn’t like Arteta. He still has plenty left to give. And so long as that is the case, keep him.
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