The little Spaniard Santi Cazorla turned 30 last week, but is still as sprightly as he was 10 years ago if not even fitter. He has had an award winning December and it has also been revealed that he played 50 games for Arsenal in 2014, more than any of his younger (and more injury-prone) team-mates.
But he fact remains that Mesut Ozil is returning to fitness and will be competing for Cazorla’s place in the cental role behind the striker, but the Spaniard has revealed that he is happy to move back to the left wing if necessary.
“I love playing centrally,” Cazorla stated. “it means I have a bit more freedom. I’m more able to help my team-mates. At the end of the day, I’m happy to help my team-mates and manager wherever – I’m happy whether I play centrally or on the wing.
Cazorla has also upped his scoring from his freer role, and he is glad that he is also helping the team in that ay.”I really wanted to score again,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of chances this year but for one reason or another – either bad luck or because I’ve missed by inches – I’ve not scored many. I want to help the team by scoring more goals so hopefully the penalty against Stoke and the two against Newcastle can help me to do that.”
Now he has turned 30 he was asked if he was feeling his age now, but he doesn’t think it has made any difference yet. “I feel good and don’t need to change anything,” Santi continued. “Of course, as the years go by the body changes, but right now there’s no specific problem that’s going to force me to change the way I work on a day-to-day basis. I’m going to carry on as I am until something means I can’t do that anymore.”
If anything Cazorla has improved with age, and hopefully we will see him carry on winning games for Arsenal right through to the end of the season….