We will never know if things would have been different for Arsenal last season if the Spanish international was fit and available to play for any more than the eight Premier League games he managed to play, but a lot of Arsenal fans think that the loss of Santi Cazorla to a long term injury had a large and negative bearing on our disappointing campaign.
Even though Arsene Wenger has quite a few options for the central midfield position that the little magician has made his own, with the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka, there is a real sense that none of them gives the Gunners the same as Santi.
At 32-years old Cazorla is getting towards the end of his prime and Wenger may be worried that another injury next season would be disastrous for our title chances, which could be why Arsenal are apparently ready to make a £21 million transfer bid for the Schalke and Germany international star Leon Goretzka, according to Sky Sports.
The 22-year old is a powerful player with good technical ability to control a game and he also chips in with goals and assists as Cazorla does, managing an impressive eight Bundesliga goals and six assists last season to help Schalke finish in 10th place.
There is said to be interest from quite a few high profile clubs but it is Arsenal who look like making the first move, so could Goretzka give Arsenal the cover we need for Cazorla?
Bob.