Santi Cazorla believes Alexis Sanchez has proved himself the Premier League’s signing of the season after the striker notched 18 goals in his first 34 games for Arsenal.
Speaking to Sport Magazine the Spaniard selected the Chile international above compatriots Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa, who both moved to Chelsea in the summer from La Liga.
“He’s the best signing in the Premier League. There were plenty of good signings this summer – like Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas – but Alexis Sanchez has been huge for us.
“He’s ambitious, he wants to get better with every training session, and it was positive for him to leave Barcelona. He’s now playing with another mindset and he’s playing fantastically.”
Reflecting on the energy his new teammate has brought to training sessions at London Colney, Cazorla continued:
“He’s as intense and annoying [laughs] in training as he is on the pitch. He’s so into football that he doesn’t want training to finish.
“Sometimes the manager is calling it off because training is over and Alexis is always kind of sad, because he loves to play football. His work ethic is a really positive influence for all of us.”
On the newfound optimism at the club, he added: “The key is belief. We are a good team, but when we played the FA Cup final last season, I could feel among the fans and among the club, some kind of fear to lose.
“That is something that we should remove from our minds now. Personally, I think that our squad is as good as Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City or Manchester United. We don’t envy their squads and we have the quality to fight with them face to face. It’s down to us to make that step forward.”
Cazorla also touched on how much he’s enjoying life in London; comments that further indicate his future remains at the Gunners, just as manager Arsene Wenger stressed in his pre-Crystal Palace press conference.
“I enjoy London a lot, it’s an amazing city – and I also get a lot of joy from playing the Premier League style of football. Also, it’s a great chance for my kids and for my family to get a new experience by living here.”
I’m picturing Alexis with the saddened look at the end of training that the dog gets when the lead is put back on and she realises the good bit of the walk is over.
I imagined a slow tear rolling down his cheek, and he just stands there, with his mouth quivering, before he slowly trudges back inside <3
Slowly trudges? this just doesn’t make any sense when we are speaking about our magnificent Chilean you know he runs back to the changing room before anybody
Anyone else want to be best mates with this guy, ‘no?’
Ha, nice Santi reference, loves a good ‘no’ at the end of every sentence.
..and most likely a laugh 🙂
Bang on. Well, it’s between him and Markovic.
Who?
Get out.
Even the most basic form of sarcasm just doesn’t seem to land. Are Arsenal fans the most literal fans in the country?! Now that would make for an amazing non aggressive, non confrontational chant. “And it’s Arsenal, Arsenal FC, by far the most linguistically literal team, the world has ever seen” or “Stand up if you hate satire”.
Got it, it just wasn’t the funniest one….
Have you actually read anything on the site you left your comment on?
No, what’s it like?
I see what you did there…
Given that we have a global fanbase, the concept of sarcasm can be grossly misunderstood.
A decent dose of good sarcasm always goes down well on this site irrespective of readership origin. By contrast crap jokes are just, well… globally crap.
Agreed, a globally international crap joke, is and remains just that.
Saying the opposite is something that lots have problems with eg ‘we are a club that has traditions, so I’m disappointed why can’t we uphold the traditions of Arsenal by buying lots of players on transfer deadline day, several of who are rubbish’ gets lots of thumbs down when it is obviously a crazy thing to say and hence intended to amuse people.
Shame really.
This is irony, not sarcasm (which is the use of irony to hurt or express contempt).
In general, this distinction is lost on most contributors here. But I’m a pedant, so what would I know?
I still can’t believe we signed Sanchez. He’s really rather good at football!
Indubitably.
We didn’t. Arsene did. Amid some competition too. We all ought to remember that from time to time.
I for one still can’t believe we signed Özil.
I am one year late.
Agreed, Sanchez signing has been unbelievable don’t get me wrong, but Ozil for 42.5mil? Who the hell saw that coming. I was watching some old spanish football that was on the other day and saw Ozil playing for Madrid, had to say to myself can’t believe this guy now plays in an Arsenal top
Anyone noticed how philosophical Blogs has been this last week, opening debates on cultural identity, freedom of speech, gay rights and the impact of capitalism on the proletariat. Not only the best football blog but the most socially aware. There is no spoon, eh blogs?!
Spoon? Perque?
Matrix reference. As Highlander would say… “There can be only one.”
The effect on the rest of the team with his relentless harrying and running has been phenomenal. Absolute beast of a man and looking at our midfield and forward line-up it’s absolutely up there as the best in the league.
Roll on 3pm this afternoon and the chance to get tix for that corrugated iron cowshed in Salford…
It’s between him and Costa IMO.
Costa is indeed a good player
Alas he’s a megacunt
So Alexis all day everyday IMO
I would give you a double thumbs up if I could. Don’t take that the wrong way please!
Agreed. Cesc too should be in the mix.
But unfortunately some people will pick costa just because he’s scored more.
Or because they think he’s been better, as you rightly implied scoring goals doesn’t neccesarily make a player better than another, but the reverse applies too.
I’d say Costa has been better than Cesc, partly because I know Cesc could do better than he is doing so I’d extend a lack of effort to having knockon effects, but partly because Costa is a beast of a player.
You spelled beast-of-a-cunt wrong
With a mug like that, I doubt Costa has been scoring that much.
That Alexis is a crafty bugger too. Always standing next to Santi, looking taller and better looking. Clever fella.
Let’s also not forget Santi in all this. Great things to say. Seems a top, top bloke with two right feet.
Picking the wedgie out; given by Santi. The two seem good chums.
Dear Zeus,
Why hast thou not sent us Sanchez and Cazorla in the summer? Now we are burdened by the wages of “Fatso” Falcao and Angel “weasel face” di Maria. I wouldn’t say we’re not grateful you took away “Messi 2.0” Cleverley and “Brazilian by name” Anderson. Could you atleast compensate us by healing Robin “placenta” van persie
Your humble servant
LVG
Dear Humble Servant,
I hath not sent thou Sanchez or Cazorla, because –
a) It would mean them having to play with Shrek and a Dutch Skunk
b) Thou does not know me well enough, since you use an ancient term to address me
c) I’ve never liked you, especially whilst at Ajax
Yours,
God (AKA DB10)
Brilliant, just fucking brilliant!
Dear Satan, surely???
Nope, the name of the Lord of Darkness is reserved for one who manages those blue c**nts down the Fulham Road.
And he’s ours, all ours! Muahahahahaha!
Last year the DJ punching saviour of Liverpool said their bitey racist was too good for Arsenal. This season I say okay fair fucks, our dog-loving, football genius, classy, amazeballs superstar is too good to go join the “farewell stevie G” circus
Anyone who uses ‘amazeballs’ deserves a thumbs down, no matter how good the rest of their comment is. FACT.
Anyone who writes “FACT” following an entirely non-factual statement deserves a thumbs down, no matter how insincere their point is.
Santi and Sanchez – the better SAS.
I’m just imagining how bloody small Santi’s kids must be 🙂
I’m imagining how shit scared of your picture they’d be lol
Clowns… Shudder
“I think that our squad is as good as Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City or Manchester United.”
Thoroughly enjoyed there being no acknowledgment of the spuds, he clearly gets being a gooner!
American sports leagues like honouring an MVP (most valuable player)……a single player who has the biggest positive impact on his team. That is exactly what Alexis is.
If only I could get my hands on alexis blood sample…i’d be some rich guy.
Imagine if you took the above picture, of your two mates going with you for a kick about in the park!
Dreamy!