Arsenal: Santi Cazorla Contract Distracts From Greater Purpose

Arsenal severely need to identify an heir to Santi Cazorla, and the fact that he has signed a new contract only distracts from this greater purpose.

Arsenal has supposedly signed Santi Cazorla to a new contract. According to details from the FA, the deal went through on the 20th of December, 2016, but the club has yet to confirm the deal. Still, it seems like something that Arsene Wenger would do.

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The 32 year old has been an integral part of the Gunner’s cohesiveness and, as such, his absence has disrupted the very thing he built.

The problem there is the fact that he is 32 years old and has suffered a serious injury in each of the past two years after not getting injured ever in the previous years of his footballing life.

It’s a bit of a harbinger of what’s to come. Arsenal need Santi Cazorla, but in the event that he is injured, they don’t have an alternative. On paper, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and even Jon Toral could rise to the call, but the risk is inherent in trusting someone that is only capable of doing the job on paper.

Exterior solutions like Miralem Pjanic make total sense, but the problem there is that, with Cazorla still under contract – and now a longer contract – Wenger is unlikely to sign a replacement. Even with the ever-increasing prospect of Cazorla missing significant time on a regular basis.

I love the idea of Wilshere coming into the role, but he is just as injury prone. Ramsey needs a long stay in the starting XI and he seems to be highly out of favor. Toral, meanwhile, can’t even score himself a chance.

I have no problem with Cazorla staying on longer. He is immensely talented and everyone likes him. But to rely on him in the same capacity as he has always been is a risky and unnecessary endeavor. Hopefully the plan is to put the reliance on someone else and let Cazorla be there as a bonus item.

It’s not a demotion or a slight on his ability. It’s the reality of age. The guy is getting older and his body is not as resistant as it used to be. We can’t keep hoping that he can stay healthy for an entire season when such a prospect is appearing less and less likely.

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Hopefully Ramsey can put this whole debate to rest by performing well against Burnley. Assuming he is given the chance.