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What’s Happened to Santi Cazorla?

By Andrew Dowdeswell

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A couple of weeks ago, I suggested that Aaron Ramsey should be dropped. This was based upon Arsene Wenger’s insistence to buy, hoard and play every attacking midfielder possible. Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil simply do not fit in the same team. Only two of these fit in the same starting XI, and last time I argued that Ozil and Cazorla should be the duo of choice for Wenger. Well, Cazorla is quite quickly ruining my whole argument.

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Last year, bar the Godly Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla was Arsenal’s best player. He was particularly influential in Arsenal’s 2-0 away victory at Manchester City, putting in one of best performances of the season. His performances in what I shall call the “pivot role” alongside Francis Coquelin were quite frankly majestic at times. The diminutive midfielder controlled games, patrolled the Arsenal’s defense and was offensively dangerous, recording 11 assists and scoring 7 goals in an outstanding campaign.

However, Cazorla seems to have lost all form and confidence. This culminated in a dreadful 1st half against Liverpool on Monday night; he repeatedly gave the ball away, especially in his own half, and was ineffective defensively (although it must be said this is not his main role in the side). What has happened to Arsenal’s star Spaniard?

The first thing I should point out is that the drop in form of Cazorla can partly be placed at the door of Arsene Wenger. His tactical ineptness is costing his wonderful midfield players their form and confidence. His insistence on squeezing all of these attacking midfield players into his starting XI is worrying and it is harming the chances of the team.

“But I  just cannot get my head around why he would not sign players of power to assist these talented players that you’ve got to enable them to win the league… It’s either naive or arrogance because they keep losing this way.” – Gary Neville

It lead to Gary Neville heavily criticizing Arsene Wenger’s transfer policy over the last decade, as he rightfully claimed that either Wenger is naive or arrogant in attempting to continually play a million and one attacking midfield players. I believe it is Wenger’s naivety that causes him to play all of these midfield players, and it is something that needs to be corrected if Arsenal are to challenge for the title.

However, not all the blame can be placed on Wenger’s shoulders. While I am often frustrated with his tactical stupidity, the blame must sometimes fall on the players, and although Wenger’s system is not helping the likes of Santi Cazorla flourish, Cazorla has simply not been good enough so far this season.

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Against West Ham, all of Arsenal were poor, but especially in midfield. The issue was speed. This does not simply mean quick players, but the speed and intensity of play. When Wenger’s teams play well, the ball moves at great speed. The passing is pinpoint, crisp and quick. Santi Cazorla has been at the heart of this since he made the move from Malaga, but in Arsenal’s three league games so far, his passing has been wayward and slow. This is not simply a critique of Santi Cazorla, but playing as a pivot between defense and attack, it is crucial that his distribution is not only accurate, but quick.

Santi Cazorla has been poor, full stop. Whether this lies at the feet of Wenger and his naivety, or whether it be the form of Santi Cazorla himself, one fact remains true, Cazorla must quickly improve to hold onto his starting XI spot. With Wilshere returning from injury, Chamberlain looking excellent whenever he takes the field, and Theo Walcott itching to get more minutes, Cazorla will have to improve, and improve quickly at that.

Next: Ramsey right to call for replays?

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