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Will Santi Cazorla be Able to Replicate Last Season’s Form for Arsenal?
By Nasra Osman
There’s no denying that Santi Cazorla had his most outstanding year in an Arsenal shirt last season. His play-making was integral to the team winning the FA Cup and finishing third in the Premier League table, essentially guaranteeing that Arsenal will be playing Champions League football next season.
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Although he only scored seven goals in the 2014/2015 campaign, he also put up an impressive 11 assists- second only to his predecessor Cesc Fabregas league wide. His ability to provide his teammates with the plays that they need is a huge reason why Arsenal has had success on the pitch this season.
But a huge question mark remains over the Spaniard going into what could be a make or break season for the club: Will Santi Cazorla be able to carry his stellar form from that season into the upcoming campaign?
It certainly will not be easy, and there are a few factors that will determine whether or not it can be done by him. Potentially the most problematic factor would be Santi Cazorla’s dip in form towards the end of the season, and what that will mean in terms of momentum.
His form from August to March saw him score the bulk of his goals and he also contributed most of his assists in that time frame. His phenomenal performances did not go unrecognized, as he was voted Arsenal’s player of the month and the PFA Fan’s player of the month in both December and January. December was most likely Cazorla’s best month of the season, in which he scored more than half of his entire goal tally, netting four times in a single month (stats via WhoScored.com).
The concern lies in the fact that the Spaniard’s production dropped off in April and May, where he managed only one goal and two assists. His points haul was particularly disappointing considering the fact that he did play in all ten of Arsenal’s matches over the last two months of the season.
These stats suggest that Cazorla may be unable to continue his exceptional form into the latter stages of the season, when the team will really be battling it out for the Premier League title. But still, this theory is only hypothetical and like always, only time will tell whether or not history will repeat itself.
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Although it appears that he doesn’t have momentum on his side, there is reason to believe that Cazorla will be just as formidable this season as he was in the last one. The case for this is his partnership with Mesut Ozil. When Ozil returned from injury in January, Wenger chose to play the two in the same midfield which was a decision that many fans (including myself) questioned.
There was much doubt that the two could play well together. However, the duo managed to click better than any other midfielder that Cazorla was partnered with in the past. Together, they present arguably the best one-two midfield punch in the Premier League, and can provide creativity in abundance. With a world class player in Ozil supporting him, it is possible that Cazorla may be even better next season.
Despite a few question marks, there is no doubt that Cazorla will be a huge determining factor in whether or not Arsenal will be successful in the Premier League next season. His play this season showed that his influence on the team is pivotal. However, one thing is certain: If Arsenal have any chance of claiming their first Premier League trophy since 2004, they will need Santi Cazorla to be consistent throughout next season.
Next: Arsenal's Stubbornness to Cost them Vidal?