Arsenal: Is it time to give up on Santi Cazorla?

Santi Cazorla announced on Wednesday that he has undergone another surgery on his ankle. Is it time for Arsenal, and Arsene Wenger, to give up on the Spaniard and move on?

Injuries are a horrible beast. They are uncontrollable, unpredictable, and have the power to utterly devastate a career. As Arsenal have experienced time and time again, there are a great many players who have never reached the potential because of niggling and sustained fitness issues.

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And on Wednesday, it was revealed that one of the more the injury-prone players in the current squad, after more than a year on sidelines already, has gone under the knife once more. Santi Cazorla, who has been dealing with a torrid ankle injury that has already seen him undergo several surgeries, including a skin graft from his arm, has had another surgery after feeling some discomfort in his ankle.

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The news was announced on his social media channels at lunchtime, on Wednesday. This is what he had to say:

"“Some discomfort in the tendon that had dragged the last few days, I have had to undergo surgery. It is delaying the date of return to the playing fields, I maintain the illusion and motivation to enjoy my great passion, soccer.”"

There is obviously no mention of a timeframe in the statement, and it is difficult to get a gauge on the extent of this latest development. But it is clear that Cazorla will not be ready to return to training in January as was initially hoped, and now there must be serious concerns that he will miss the whole season.

That raises questions of whether Arsene Wenger must now move on from Cazorla. The Spaniard will be 33 next summer, with his contract expiring. Discussions must be had over whether extending his deal is value added for this squad.

Now, that is not to say that he is not deserving of a new deal. His natural talent alone demands as much. But if he is to return to Arsenal beyond the end of this season, there needs to be a clear definition of structure. Will he be seen as an integral part of the first team, as he has been? Or will he, like Per Mertesacker, be considered as an experienced squad player, only coming into the side sparingly?

It is obvious that Arsenal cannot rely on Cazorla to complete a full season. His body simply cannot handle the physical challenge. But if he is willing to accept a lesser role in the squad, with more restricted playing time and limited responsibility, then I see no reason why he should not extend his tenure in North London.

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The key is the format of his staying. The Arsenal squad must be built such that if Cazorla were to miss the whole season again, they would not suffer. In that case, when he is available, he is a no-lose bonus. If Cazorla is seen as a foundation piece of the squad, then it will all come crumbling down. It’s a sad, sad truth. Let’s hope, for now, anyway, that Cazorla has a safe and successful rehabilitation process. We wish him the speediest recovery possible.