Arsenal: Santi Cazorla Nothing More Than A Cop Out

Arsenal nation wants answers for the Watford loss and many are again pointing to Santi Cazorla’s absence, but this is simply the cop out response.

Arsenal were embarrassed by Watford at home when they needed three points to narrow the gap with Chelsea. Naturally, everyone needs someone to point the finger at. I totally buy into pointing it at Arsene Wenger or Aaron Ramsey or just about anyone that was on or near the pitch on Tuesday, so sign me up for your favorite protest.

Related: Arsenal’s 30 Greatest Players Ever

But I do not for a moment buy the Santi Cazorla rubbish about how if he was here, this wouldn’t have happened.

I think our minds have gotten a bit fanciful. With Arsenal struggling we need someone to cling to as the solution and with Cazorla missing, some minds cling to him as we desperately search for an answer as to why, every six or seven matches, we have to look dreadfully under-prepared.

Personally, I don’t see any shred of credibility in this claim. I did a feature not long ago comparing Arsenal’s numbers with and without Cazorla and there is a small bit of numerical evidence that the Gunners are better with Cazorla, but what we saw against Watford was a complete and utter failing that one man could not have solved.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

Cazorla would have been pushed around just like anyone else. He is a small player who would have had just as much trouble getting through those two massive banks of human beings just like the rest of the Gunners. He isn’t a magical being, despite his title of Spanish magician.

Plus, look at what happened against Southampton. Last I checked, Cazorla was not out on that pitch when the Gunners looked the best they have looked all damn year. Their speed and incisiveness was overbearing on the Saints and they did it all without Cazorla.

What we saw against Watford was simply a slow, heartless effort (at least in the first half). That game needed about six or seven changes, not just one swap. I won’t deny that we are missing Santi Cazorla but to point to him and say “things would be different if he were here” is just an easy cop out. Just like blaming Olivier Giroud when things go bad.

Next: Arsenal's 30 Greatest Transfers Of Past 30 Years

That being said, the Gunners really do need to identify a Cazorla replacement because it is not Aaron Ramsey. Hopefully the Ox can continue to show up, because he is emerging as a serious candidate.