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Santi Cazorla Will Be Arsenal’s Next Captain
By Josh Sippie
Mikel Arteta is not going to be Arsenal’s captain forever. In fact, this will be his last year. His contract expires at the end of the year and Arsenal will be looking for a new skipper. I have advocated for Arsene Wenger to anoint a long-term captain instead of his typical, commemorative captaincy that has been used for the past few years.
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The captaincy has become like a swan song. The veteran leader is given the captaincy or a player that shortly moves on. It is like the kiss of death. Since Patrick Vieira took the captaincy from long-serving skipper Tony Adams in 2002, no captain has served longer than 3 years and that will continue with Arteta and with the next captain.
Santi Cazorla is going to be the next captain. If there was no other reason, the only clue we need is that when Arteta and Mertesacker are not on the pitch, Cazorla is the captain.
Even beyond that, his captaincy qualities are oozing all around us. It is no small coincidence that whenever a player is asked for his ‘ultimate XI’, Santi Cazorla is a piece. Team mate or no, not a soul out there will deny Santi Cazorla’s outstanding qualities. As the Metro points, Cazorla is the most creative midfielder in Europe. This coming in the midst of a season that Arsenal has looked toothless. Cazorla has not been free from blame either. Yet he leads Europe in creative chances.
Two other factors play into the advocacy of Cazorla’s captaincy. First of all, he is officially a veteran leader. At 30 years of age, he has crossed the ‘you must be this old to captain the Gunners’ line that Wenger has used lately. Not only that, but by next year, he will not be a guaranteed starter anymore. He is not even a guaranteed starter this year. Arsenal is overflowing with quality in the midfield and before long, Cazorla is going to assume the same role that Mikel Arteta did. He is going to be a captain from the distance.
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However, with Cazorla it might be different. He plays a crucial role in Arsenal’s build up. Suiting up next to Coquelin gives him the most vital role on the field. He dictates the way the defense and the offense link up. Unfortunately, it has not gone well lately and some of that has to fall on Cazorla.
I still wish to see Aaron Ramsey become the long-term captain of Arsenal, but barring a major step-up this season, he will not claim the role. The similarities between he and Gerard are prevalent, but Ramsey still has inconsistencies and his leadership qualities could use some buffering.
Santi Cazorla will still be relevant on the team come next year when he assumes captaincy. That makes his potential appointment make a lot more sense than where it is with Arteta, who rarely sees the pitch.
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