There are not many Arsenal fans that would disagree that our silky Spaniard Santi Cazorla has been one of our most important players over the last five years, but now he has passed the grand old age of 32 we have learnt to accept that he won’t be around much longer.
Santi managed to avoid our injury plague for a few years, but the season before last he only managed 15 League games, and in the present season he had only made 7 starts before succumbing to another injury. Every Gooner and his dog has been begging Arsene Wenger to bring in an equal talent as a replacement, and although Oxlade-Chamberlain has been improving in the midfield role there is only one year left on his contract and there are rumours he may be moving on this summer as well.
But we may already have his replacement waiting in the wings, in the form of Jeff Reine-Adelaide, who has obviously been impressing Arsene Wenger and haas played in all our League Cup and FA Cup games this season and has looked impressive. It would appear that Wenger is easing him into the first team in a similar fashion to Alex Iwobi, and like the Nigerian international he is likely to start by playing on the wing, but he insists that his best position is in the centre of midfield.
“I prefer to play in the middle of the park, as I feel most comfortable there,” Reine-Adelaide said on Arsenal.com. “I get more touches on the ball, which is good as I’m a playmaker and I like to create chances for the team. I can also play out wide, but my favourite position is in midfield.
“It helps cohesion in the squad when you have players who are comfortable in several positions and we have a few at the club who have that versatility.
“They bring a lot to our game. They can break through a defence, make all kinds of passes and also defend in various positions on the pitch so they offer a lot.
“We don’t always put ourselves in another player’s shoes. When you play in various positions you begin to appreciate the challenges of playing in different places on the pitch.”
What do you think? Has Jeff impressed you when he has played?