Isco is the Perfect Successor to Santi Cazorla at Arsenal

Isco has been linked to Arsenal for quite some time. It goes all the way back to the winter of 2014 when a move was all but certain. Yet the Spanish playmaker remains at Real Madrid. But for how long?

Isco is first-team quality. He is already clamoring to be a starter in the Spanish National side but he is yet to break into being a permanent fixture for Los Blancos. All this inspite of his excellent performances when afforded the chance. Real Madrid continue to bring in high-priced, world-class starters to take the place that Isco has been craving.

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As ESPN FC points out, with Madrid’s 4-2-3-1 formation, there is only one spot up for grabs. It is a battle between James Rodriguez and Isco. That leaves Isco at a disadvantage. Isco has been fighting for a spot since he arrived from Malaga in 2013 for just £21 million. That is a bit different than James, who was purchased after a stellar World Cup campaign for £56 million, making him one of the highest transfers monetarily in history.

Neither one is suited for the bench. But of the two scenarios, Isco is the most suited.

However, that does not sit well with Isco. He has had lapses with current coach Rafa Benitez. Those came to the forefront when he told the media after being dropped from the squad: “I’m not very content. I thought I was playing well.”

Isco has a ton of talent. That kind of talent is never going to be content to wait for players to get hurt and then fill in. He needs a permanent spot and Real Madrid are not ready to offer him one. Not only that, but they appear unwilling to even consider offering him one. With an opening emerging, they grabbed Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez. All possible avenues for a starting position were eliminated immediately for Isco. That frustration has to come to a boiling point soon. He is going to want out.

Arsene Wenger has to be there to pat Isco on the head and assure him that everything is going to be okay. That is, once he moves to London.

Isco has a couple things Wenger tends to gravitate towards. Firstly, he is versatile. By serving almost entirely as a fill-in, he has played any and all positions in the midfield. This leaves him fairly capable of making an extended stay at any of those positions. He is predominantly an attacking midfielder but he has served as a deep-lying midfielder similar to Santi Cazorla.

And now that we have dropped the name, lets talk about Isco and Cazorla. The two had an excellent partnership at Malaga before they went their separate ways. What better time to reunite them then for Cazorla’s swan song as he passes the mantle off to Isco?

The two play a similar type of game. Isco is a maestro on the ball. He dribbles with precision as the ball seems to be an extension of his foot. One thing Isco does have that Cazorla does not is pace. Such pace would be useful on Arsenal’s counter attacks. Normally only Alexis or the Ox would be capable of leading a counter attack, as pace is often lacking. Isco fixes that.

When it comes to Cazorla’s strong suit, passing, Isco is not far behind. Last season Cazorla completed 89% of his passes. Isco was right behind him at 88%. Cazorla contributed 2.02 key passes per 90. Isco was again not far behind at 1.70. Isco even notched more assists than Cazorla. He is working with a different class of finisher, however.

Rumor has it that Isco is not going to cost more than £21 million. That is exactly what Real Madrid paid for him. Links are again tying Arsenal to the prodigious talent. Naturally, Manchester City are also keen on finally acquiring the guy that Real Madrid beat them too.

Arsene Wenger passed on all manner of midfielders this summer. There is no real indication that that will change for Isco. However, there is no doubt that Santi Cazorla has spoken fondly of his former team mate and few players have more respect within the Gunners than Cazorla.

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