Aaron Ramsey says Santi Cazorla is a ‘little magician’ after the Spaniard engineered Arsenal’s pitch-perfect 2-0 win against Manchester City.
On a memorable afternoon at the Eithad the 30-year-old was very much the ‘Santidote’ to the Gunners recent woes against their top four rivals as he opened the scoring from the spot before helping Olivier Giroud to a timely second.
Speaking to Arsenal Player after the game, Ramsey couldn’t help but beam with pride at the all-action shift put in by his teammate:
“Santi’s a little magician on the pitch. You saw him out there so many times, how he wriggles out of certain situations, and he had a very good game.
“We’re delighted for him and hopefully he can continue his form as well. It was obviously a good game for us. We defended really well as a team.
“We were really hard to break down and we took our chances when we needed to, so it was a very complete performance today.
“In the past we’ve been a bit too open at Manchester City. It’s been quite difficult for us in the last few years but we wanted to put things right and we definitely put in a good performance to come away with three points.”
Obviously pleased to shift the focus away from the Gunners recent abject record on the road against the big sides Per Mertesacker underlined how important it was for his teammates to play as a unit.
“We didn’t rush ourselves to do anything,” the BFG said. “We stayed calm over the whole 90 minutes and just dropped a bit deeper.
“It’s very unusual for us, but we learned, especially from last season. I would say it was a mature performance.
“We don’t have to talk too much – it was just one game, but it was a good response.
“Every player was up for proper defending from front to back. I think we have to praise the whole unit.”
I like that even Mertesacker, the (vice) captain of the defence, is surprised that Arsenal are capable of actual, “proper defending”. Bless this team.
I’ve found it always hard to understand how people can dislike a player like Santi. He’s such a gifted player. His footwork yesterday was nothing short of magic. True he can be out of form at times but thats the caae for all sportsmen. In terms of skill he’s right up there amongst the best. We are really lucky to have him at Arsenal.
Cant upvote your comment. You have exactly 49 right now!
It definitely was a mature performance by the players.
More importantly a big change in approach from Wenger, which bodes well for the future.
Hoping to a see a similar result (not the same approach but a flexible one) against that jerk mourinho.
Ozil must be shitting himself
Not quite.
I’d like to think that if Carzola is knackered, we have a very decent option in having Ozil to come on.
Because Wenger loves squad rotation
Ozil will have to be at his very best if he gets a chance. Wenger must be loathed to change this winning unit, in the prem games anyway, the FA Cup will see some rotation.
Very good performance by all Arsenal players yesterday. I’m not worried for Ozil. There are enough matches to go round. He will replace Santi or Ramsey in some games. We need to put a strong run together till end of the season. The league appears out of reach, but there’s still a lot to play for and players like Ozil, Walcott, Flamini and Welbeck all have big roles to play
16 games left 13 points the difference. Chelsea are not the amazing team steamrolling the league that the press will have you beleive plus they have been very lucky with injuries which surely can’t continue…….. It’s not impossible is all I am saying we have to beleive it can happen!! COYG!!!
let presed coquelin too for his good work in DM roll
I can’t get enough of Giroud’s celebration slide. “Paint me like one of your Handsome French Blokes.”
Özil has never had a proper chance to shine for Arsenal since his arrival! Last season he had to play with Cazorla (despite being the best n°10, he was compelled to share the game with Caz) and without any proper quick players. Still he was the best assist giver and creator of the club (still being spit on though). This season he was pushed on the wing to accomodate the mediocre Wilshere. When he shined as n°10, Wenger said that “he is tempted to play him in the middle but…” but then there is Wilshere to accomodate, so hop, Özil… Read more »
So Ozil isn’t allowed to be criticised after poor performances on the wing but Cazorla is after also struggling on the wing???
Strange that Cazorla has been outstanding after being moved into his preferred position, a bit like you’re suggesting Ozil should be allowed to do. You managed to start and argue a point with just yourself… quite amazing really.
What nonsense. Ozil got the no.10 role as soon as he came to Arsenal. He was excellent at first but then struggled for form half way through the season. He wasn’t shunted out to the wing because of Wilshere, or whoever. It was because we changed to a 4-3-3/4-1-4-1, and Wenger thought (rightly or wrongly) that he’s a better winger than a CM. I imagine that he’ll try Ozil out in CM now, or change the formation to accommodate him as a no.10 when he plays
This has to be one of the dumbest posts I’eve ever read.
So glad the rumors about Santi to Atletico Madrid didn’t materialize this Summer. He is such a well rounded player and his defensive work is really underrated in my opinion. He is deceptively quick and is all over the field. Love watching him calmly get out of tight situations and then pick out the perfect pass that he sprays all over the field with either foot with great accuracy. Just a shame he hasn’t been given more of an opportunity in Spain’s lineup over the years. On another note loved all the images of Sagna freezing on the bench which… Read more »
Don’t forget Jenkinson to come back too! And to think this article was only written 2 days ago… http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2914375/Bacary-Sagna-epitomises-difference-Arsenal-Manchester-City.html
That was the most pathetic excuse for an article ive ever seen. Never fail to amuse me Daily Mail.
I truly love our current form. It’s reminding me of our long stretch to finish out strong at the end the year before last and also the first two thirds of last season. But, I’m remaining a little angry with the club that they ever moved away from it…strange. I know injuries can affect things, but also, maybe, just maybe, AW was thinking a little more grandiose with all the tools at his disposal and not thinking pragmatically. I wish that he would have stuck with that previously successful *formula* and then started tweaking it as the season went along… Read more »
What I find magical is that our number 10 was so outstanding defensively. It was like Bergkamp and Gilberto Silva were morphed into one and the freakish product was a diminutive beast of a player. More of the same please!
Arsene is slowly but surely building a very solid team that will challenge for all trophies in no distant future. I think he has quietly adopted the “Dortmund model” – a unit of very talented individuals who grow together and play with telepathic understanding rather than an assemblage of strange fellows glued together by their transfer fee and burgeoning egos. A team that functions as a unit, a well drilled machine. He is almost there. This winter window and more importantly, the summer window affords him the opportunity to put the final pieces in place. Not much, two to three… Read more »
Except, Klopp adopted the Wenger Model and not the other way around. Just that Klopp implemented it brilliantly before it fell apart this season for Dortmund. Wenger is learning from his mistakes. Hope we have some League titles and Champions League glory before Mert/Kos retire as the greatest central defensive pairing in Europe.
SIMPLT BRILLIANT! Santi was bewitching to behold. Magic feet! Man of the match by a mile! Crucially, his work rate was phenomenal because he came down closer to Ramsey and Coquelin to add the numbers and provide us with an outlet from deep carrying the ball with close control. Amazing form right now. Again puts to rest all those naysayers who were on his back when he only recently returned from injury. We are seeing an exceptional player at the moment in his best years. The other player I thought that was impressive was Ox. Not quite at the level… Read more »
So apparently we are a one man team according to the facile media and Alexis is carrying us. Alexis was poor against City by his standards and gave the ball away numerous times where Santi retained it for us and had a goal and an assists to his credit. A shout to Giroud who worked tirelessly and was dangerous on a number of ocassions, once beating Demchelis to a ball and on another almost beating Kompany for pace! Slow as mud he is. As Wenger says, our game is a team game. But the media will have you we are… Read more »
The very good point has been made that Alexis was probably feeling the burden of being the one who is supposed to make things happen (being the decisive player) and pushing a few passes, etc etc. But he’s smart and the team around him is playing better. He’ll learn from that.
When Wenger said he likes that Santi is a two footed player and you need that in the middle of the pitch, was he saying that Ozil won’t be playing in the centre any more?
Form : temporary
Santi : permanent.