Arsenal: Santi Cazorla Exit The Beginning Of The End

Santi Cazorla is being linked with a move away from the Emirates in the summer. His exit would be the beginning of the end for this Arsenal era.

As the aftermath from the 5-1 hammering at the hands of Bayern Munich continues, what is becoming more and more apparent is the impending end of the current Arsenal era under Arsene Wenger.

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There is a contract offer on the table to extend his stay at the helm beyond the end of the year – when his current deal expires – and it is seemingly Wenger’s decision as to whether he chooses to stay on or, after two decades in the job, call it a day.

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Much of the media, ex-players and reporters, suggest that Wenger will choose to retire at the end of the season. He certainly looked dejected and defeated in his post-match interview, tired after yet another Champions League hammering at the hands of Bayern. With the two major trophies now out of touch for the Gunners bar a miraculous comeback in the Premier League, attention now turns to who may leave in the summer.

The latest reports suggest that Santi Cazorla could be the next Wenger darling to leave the Emirates with Fenerbache sniffing around the creative playmaker. Now 32 and with his contract dwindling, there may well be cause to sell the Spaniard with his value decreasing with every passing year and every major injury suffered.

If Cazorla were indeed to leave in the summer – this is much more likely if Wenger also chooses to leave rather than if Wenger continues in his role – it would signal the end of an era in North London. This is primarily because of the style of player that Cazorla is.

He is a sensational player, wonderfully two-footed with an exquisite first touch, acute vision and creativity and a beautiful passing range. However, he also stands at 5-foot-6, can be physically overpowered and is reliant on his partner to cover much of the ground for him. That is no slight on Cazorla, they are simply his limitations.

Wenger, though, is seemingly obsessed with the Cazorla-type players; the smaller, more technical, attacking, creative midfielders. There has always been a lack of a physical presence at the heart of the Arsenal midfield and that has been down to the footballing priorities of Wenger.

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This Arsenal era is coming to an end. Wenger could be set to leave and the players built in his image also. Perhaps no player epitomises that style like Cazorla. His exit would truly be the beginning of the end.