What presents will Santi bring to Arsenal?
Cazorla Analyis: by SV
It’s been done, I know, but not yet by me and I’d just like to have my say. Today’s article will focus on Arsenal’s new signing Santi Cazorla. At least, he’s a new signing unless there’s some drastic U-turn between me writing this and you reading it. Anyway, the Spaniard SEEMS to be joining us, so the article is still valid.
The exciting Spaniard has been called by podcaster Sid Lowe as ‘the best player [in Spain] not playing for Madrid or Barcelona’. Now that’s saying something. Just to jog your memories, there’s plenty of talent in Spain outside the two big clubs. Think Llorente. Think Jesus Navas. Think Javi Martinez. And apparently Cazorla’s better than any of them. Not bad.
Cazorla could fit into several of the positions in our system, but those who think that he could replace RVP are kidding themselves. He’s not a striker, but rather a creative midfielder. That means that he could play in either of the wide positions in the front three of our 4-3-3, and could also play in the hole which Cesc used to occupy. If I were to hazard a guess (and this is assuming our squad stays the same), I would say that Wenger intends to initially deploy him here, as an attacking midfielder. This is because we are currently short on central players and Cazorla doesn’t quite have the pace to play as a traditional winger.
And, call me stupid, but if I were to compare Santi with any of our current crop, I’d probably say that he’s most like the Ox. Obviously, there are some differences, but I think that there are plenty of similarities too. For one, they both like to take shots from distance. Also, they both have an explosive style which is incredibly useful in the final third. So, since Wenger has said that he wants the Ox to eventually play centrally, it isn’t that far-fetched to imagine Cazorla there.
However, if RVP were to leave, I expect that Cazorla would probably be deployed elsewhere. I say this because I don’t think that Giroud is ready to fill Van Persie’s shoes quite yet, so I would have Podolski playing up top in his preferred position. This would mean that Cazorla could move out to the left of that front three. And, to avoid seemingly contradicting myself, though I said that Cazorla isn’t cut out to be a traditional winger, it doesn’t necessarily mean he can’t play out wide. Think about it, Nasri (curse his name) used to play out wide when he played for us, and, though he was quick, he didn’t have blistering pace. I think that, if Cazorla were to play out wide, he would do more cutting in on his favoured right foot as opposed to trying to go outside the defender to the by-line.
But I’m going to stop there. I don’t want to get ahead of myself because, as I write this, there are only rumours that Santi has signed. I hope to wake up tomorrow to a confirmation from Arsenal.com.
So till tomorrow.
If you liked this article, you can follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SVGunner.
welcome to arsenal
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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He is more like a fabregas, arteta wilshere kind of player. He will definitely add creativity in our team and unlock defense. Welcome to arsenal fc!
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Mourinho has now claimed that should he want, the 23-year-old can leave the Spanish giants this month.
“The point is, he’s a young boy, he wants to play every match,” said the Portuguese. “He wants to play to be happy, and in Real Madrid with Xabi Alonso, with [Sami] Khedira, with Lassana [Diarra], [Esteban] Granero, [Mesut] Ozil, the situation is not easy.
“Real Madrid is very difficult. It is not an easy club, because we demand a lot. We have great players, and when you don’t start well, it is difficult to do it.
“If he stays, he’s not a problem for me, he’s one more solution. We leave [the situation] in his hands. Be happy.
“Decide what you want to decide, to be happy. If you decide to leave we are going to help you to leave. If you decide to stay, we are going to support you and try to succeed this season.”
throphy time, party time, all year with santi and sahin joining
that means we will have a strong team for all the cups and even we can be favourites in all and win all
PARTY PARTY PARTY PARTY, ALL WE NEED IS TO BELIEVE IN THE TEAM , NO MATTER WE MEET SMALL OR BIGGER CLUBS. WE GOTTA PLAY SERIOUS
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Hurrrraayyyy!!!!
We have signed Carzola!!!
Can’t believe it!
Still pinching myself.
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When will this shit be confirmed! My eyes are getting sore from reading the same rehashed stories. My family are getting worried about me. Biggest signing since Bergkamp in my book….if it comes off!!
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Thumbs up john 3:16 needs to leave!
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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Just read on another article we are apparently going to confirm him as a player tomorrow
I reckon this evening will be the earliest it will be announced, I cant see it not happening now but I do worry still
The only other thing I can think of is Wenger wants to unveil a ‘double swoop’ and get Sahin in as well before confiming both, what would be nicer for us fans then to see us announce a double signing of Cazorla and Sahin?
I think the comment about Giroud not being ready is about disrespectful to him though, the fee was the same as Podolski’s (Give or take a little) He got the TS award last year in France. A lot of people will say so did Chamakh and look at him but remember he cost nothing where as Wenger has felt £12m is worth spending on Giroud, a massive difference there.
The game against Koln will be interesting, assuming RVP plays some part and we probably play a different team each half, does RVP captain us for when hes on? Does he start in the stronger line up? Do we get to see a likely starting line up for the league or will it be two mixes of both experience and youth?
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Very good article , and i want to point out, he is an outstanding addition !!
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Interesting little read @SV although like you said didn’t really offer anything other than a personal view and in the interests of prosperity he is mine such as it is. In terms of life with RVP i agree he would be best employed in a withdrawn striker type of role. A christmas tree formation if you will with RVP the Star (no pun intended) at the top of the tree and Pod on the left and Theo on the right. In the absence of RVP our opinions differ, Giroud was bought as a front man and is experienced up there so use him. This may mean a slight re-jig behind prehaps with Carzola tighter and a more traditional 4-4-2 employed or more precisely a 4-4-1-1 with the same wingers as before with the other midfielder being Sahin (maybe) Song or Arteta depending on the opposition. Lets hope we have not jinxed Carzola signing
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Well done Wenger for sealing the Santi Cazorla deal.
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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I see a very entertaining and efficient Arsenal this season. Not too early to say bravo.
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The presents will be Trophies! And Trophies!! And Trophies!!!
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We should also get Nacho Monreal (the left back) from Malaga. We might as well as he’s good and Malaga might be tempted to sell with the finanicial poisiton there in
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It water under the bridge, but what more could have RVP asked from AW in this transfer window. What? Messi?
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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According to arseblog rumours are that we could have got cazorla for as little as 12.5 million…. that would have been an absolute steal, wenger can sniff out a bargain!!
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I hope he brings some worthers original….ohh and a nice girlfriend to challenge Pod’s @admin any news on Giroud’s girlfriend?
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I do hope he comes. It has to be said though, We would not be a bunch of defeatist fans if we did not get so excited over possible signings. We do it every time- lets see what occurs officially before assigning shirt numbers. The let downs only make us bitter.
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Welcome santi to the greatest club of the world..
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arsenal will be a force to reckon with.imagine rvp stays and wenger fields sahin(if we sign him),cazorla and wilshere(after his setbacks) wooow!
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@MN
let’s just stop this john arguement
to be honest it is our fault for letting it go this so far, i apologise
we are fellow gooners
even if we live in different countries, we are still fellow gooners
this mighty club has united us and we should embrace it
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Calm down tyro, only banta, but MN has a fair point.
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Olivier Giroud will replace Robin Van Persie. Santi Cazorla’s position was established long time ago, Aaron Ramsey was simply keeping it warm for him. Podolski will replace Gervinho and Gervinho will replace Walcott. The rest remains the same, with Sahin helping Arteta.
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Santi Cazorla has agreed to join Arsenal for £12 million!!!
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It’s not yet christmas and SANTI has come to town!!! Welcome Santi and yes he is da BOMB!!!
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TO ALL GOONER FANS IF U THINK CAZORLA WILL NOT COME TO US THINK AGAIN… HE HAS A OFFICIAL TWITTER ACCOUNT WHICH SAYS HE HAS SIGNED FOR THE ARSENAL YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY
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In total there are 5 clubs interested in taking sahin on loan so this could drag on for a while before anything happens if we get him then i think that will put the m’vila rumour completely to bed!
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Arteta galfriend is mor beautiful dan poldoski@seaster
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@John 3:16
I heard the fee was that amount aswell happy days what a bargain, that would mean giroud,poldi and cazorla for 35 million bout what chelsea paid for hazard haha i know what id prefer!! COYG
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@jk
If we can add players like Sakho and M’Vila to the squad for the defensive side of things before the season starts, i can seriously see us challenging for the title!
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So if all this goes down we will have signed Podolski, Giroud and Cazorla for what Liverpool paid for Andy Carrol!
Wenger 1- everyone else 0
The current rumor is United want to hijack & buy Sahin outright.
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Apparently Arsenal are waiting on Malaga to fax paperwork.
Also, Mbaye Niang is leaving Caen for Arsenal or Milan.
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HOOOORAYYYYYYYYYYY…We have been Santi-Fied….
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@john 3:16
Really not to sure on that price tag mate, seen £12m reported in a couple of places and also seen £17m rising to £20m in others, will be interesting to see what the official figure actually is, if we do eventually confirm it
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@ john 3:16
If we can keep song and add sahin i think we ok in midfield i think m’vila will arrive only if song leaves. i would like to see a quality defender come in to add depth, they are hard to get though look at man city and barcelona they have been trying all summer for a centre back and still cant get one!! The best are unavailable like hummels and martinez. I think n’kalou or sakho would be good options though!
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I don’t like the idea of players filling in for positions. They should play the position they intends to play and are used to. If “filling” is the case, then we are ill prepared and short of a shot at the title next season. Which means we have to buy or sort out the positions quite quickly in this transfer window. If we are still trying to find out who’s where and who’s who right now, then we haven’t solved the main issue: when are we gonna have depth in the squad so that we don’t exhaust our options. This article enlightens some worry in me!
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@Emery
I think Malaga are having a fire sale because they desperately need to raise some money to pay off their debts. So i’m assuming they will sell their players a bit cheaper than their market value. If Wenger can address the defensive side of things now and bring in a couple of good experienced players, i can see us challenging for all the major honours this upcoming season.
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Seen a couple of people mentioning Sahin being linked with a number of other clubs and United in particular
I would just like to point out that Wenger said in an interview a few weeks ago he wants another couple of signings and there was a BBC official article a couple of days ago saying we are hopefull on a double signing within the next few days, it looks as if Cazorla will be confirmed on Arsenal’s website today/tomorrow and I reckon Sahin will be by early next week personally, United have got Kagawa this summer and wouldnt be able to guarentee him first team football, the exact reason why he wants out of Madrid
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Like Messi but Better (coz he plays for Arsenal)
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@john 3:16
Yeah knowing Wenger he would have gotten the price down quite a bit, an absaloute genius when coming to sign top talent
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and Finally AW spent sum money!!
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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@jk
I think left-back is our weak link. Gibbs is a decent player who will improve with age, but he needs a full season without any injuries to gain some confidence to become a top left-back and follow in the footsteps of Cole, Clichy etc. I think there’s too much pressure for him to do that given his injury record. And Santos is very good going forward in a left-wing position, but as a left-back? Sorry, not for me.
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glory be to god that our manager sign a new player 4 17million
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John 3:16
Completely agree i think every fan wants to see gibbs do well he came up through the youth ranks arsenal true and true just think its a season to early for him he still gets caught out of position alot, and as for santos hes not a left back plain and simple looks decent midfield though. Leighton baines would be great but wenger would never pay what everton would want!!
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@Chua
He spent more money last year so I dont know what your talking about pal
Gervinho (approx £12m)
Ox (approx £15m)
Mertesacker(approx £10m)
Arteta (approx £10m)
Santos (approx £8m)
Benayoun (loan)
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Oh Papa Wenger,if u r able to land Carzola & Sahin hmmm den ur name will never be forgetten coz dis players will bring massive JOY with TROPHIES at Emirate
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@jk
Well it looks like Van Persie’s statement about the club having no ambition has hit a raw nerve with Wenger and he ain’t messing about like previous seasons when it comes to buying players or paying the money! So if anything, Van Persie has done us a favour! Let’s hope he does a Rooney style U-Turn, stays and the fans forgive him!
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@John 3:16
If rvp stays its the best chance we have at the league since the invincibles, our bench could realistically be mertesacker, arteta, giroud, walcott,santos, gervinho, diaby, ramsey now thats strength in depth. All rvp wanted was the club to get ambitious and its worked.
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Hate to sound so negative but i’m starting to wonder whether the proposed move for Santi has hit a snag???
Would hate to hear that news but Arsenal have really awful luck when it comes to transfers (cahill, mata, ronaldindho, cristiano ronaldo)
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@Deeray
Give it time mate, he flew in yesterday, hes moving to another country so will be looking for accomodation as well as everything else, probably getting stuff sorted such as his family, having a medical, being shown around, meeting new teamates, its not like its deadline day and has to be completed by midnight, I believe tomorrow evening at the latest he will be confirmed by, this evening probably the earliest, just be patient though mate
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@jk
SZCZESNY
SAGNA
KOSCIELNY
VERMAELEN
GIBBS
SONG
ARTETA
WALCOTT
CAZORLA
PODOLSKI
VAN PERSIE
Subs:
Fabianski
Santos
Mertesacker
Sahin
Oxlade-Chamberlain
Gervinho
Giroud
And i haven’t even mentioned WILSHERE! Once he’s fit!
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@
john 3:16
Nice line up, except I wouldnt expect RVP to be in there come the start of the season
I love how people still moan that we have no depth, you didnt even mention…
Ryo
Diaby
Eisfield
Bartley
Miguel
Jenkinson
Frimpong
Coqulein
Yennaris
Aneke
Im not saying the ones ive listed are world class etc but they have all had good pre-seasons, baring the injured Frimpong, and all provide young backup coming through and trying to stake a claim for a first team spot, I obviously wouldnt want to rely on them for half the season but its good to know even our young back up reserves actually have talent
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So now Arsene is astute, a genious! Too fickle, some of you; Not so long ago many were imploring him to buy anything, even if we were five deep in that position; I gotta feeeling RVP has run out of time,he will stay, Juventus coughing up 70 million?will go for someone cheaper man city strikers. I can understand why Barcelona want our footballers, we play a similar style, technically already trained….too easy, but would rather see tide turned, us poaching their players
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@ John 3:16
I think if sahin comes in we should loan out ramsey for the season i mean looking at that squad fully fit ramsey diaby frimpong coquelin dont even make the bench and thats not including if arshavin stays. i think it would really benefit him and us in the long run! i think coquelin will get more games due to the fact he can cover right back!
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I hope that with santi won t be situation like with arshavin…
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@ emery
Some quality youngsters coming through at least they will have the next gen series by all accounts it will be very competitive i would expect a few to go out on loan to maybe championship
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@paul hau can we possibley sign sahin, U said the m’villa deal iz 100% done and dusted the two are both holding midfield playerz
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What would you do if you were RVP? If you were playing in a competion away from home soil i;e had no life long allegiance to the club. You want trophies and you want money, both understandable. But you want to play and play well in a team that allows this.
Objectively, I would stay if I were him,he is star of the team (will that happen elsewhere). Captain-no. he has negotiated better wages, thats covered.the team WILL win trophies if he stays, and lots and he will be right their in it- instrumental, instead of a bit part player. he has no personal issues with personel at Aresnal, and many temperamental strikers do-always a big risk. he has been well looked after He will go down as a legend-like Henri forever loved-always his home. he does risk falling into obscurity and becoming an object of derison, imagine if at Juve he gets injured badly early, he is retired as a player with one good season, will their physio staff be able to manage his injury prone body like we do. he has got some serious thinking to do, its not cut and dried, their is another twist to this saga
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Cazorla he is good as cesc fagregas good than mata and torres chelsea players.That’s why I wanna wenger to sign him for us.It would encourage RVP to remain at emirate loosing a big big players like van persie is great problem to arsenal keeping them most help the gunners to terminate the trophless situation.Up gonnerss4life.
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According to Santi’s twitter account, he is already a gooner. See link http://twitter.com/SCazorla12
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The best present can be the announcement of him signing…………….
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@M
I posted that yesterday lunch time when it was posted but someone rightly pointed out that the twitter account hasnt been authorised, so although it may well be his Twitter, it isnt official, so be careful in believing it, not 100% genuine
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Yay! Now we just need Sahin to be confirmed, accompanied by leaked info that Arsenal has secured right of first refusal within the loan contract.. Then, next on the agenda is to secure Song and Walcott’s signatures.. Hopefully this should all convince RvP stay!! If this all transpires we could be staring down a season full of trophies.. with any luck!!
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So, it seems very close but not yet on arsenal.com
Sid Lowe said ‘the best player [in Spain] not playing for Madrid or Barcelona’
I wonder, who at Barca, Madrid in the same position is better? Any thoughts people
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Sczenzy
Sagna Koz Verm Gibbs
Song/Sahin Arteta/Diaby
Walcott Cazorla Gervinho/Podolski
RVP(if he stays)/Giroud
Subs: Martinez(Good year in reserves)
Giroud
Ox
Gervinho
Diaby
Mertesacker
Sahin
Santos/Wilshere(Once fit)
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santi is in? Hurray!!!get a cookie Oh wait….. its not on arsenal.com yet. Just hope he doesnt end up in chealsea camp because that will be a serious mata to look into…..if you get what i am sahin
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