Arsenal confirmed last night that Santi Cazorla is set to leave the club after six years.
The popular Spaniard, who hasn’t played since October 2016 due to injury, is set to join former club Villarreal for pre-season training in the hope of finding full fitness ahead of the new season.
On his departure, the 33-year-old had this message for the Emirates faithful.
Hola Arsenal fans.I am sad to be leaving after so many great times. I have loved my time with the club and will always remember the special moments we had together.YouHave always given me special support and I will miss you.Thank you everyone https://t.co/ftOWeAM3mN
— Santi Cazorla (@19SCazorla) May 21, 2018
“Hello to the Arsenal fans everywhere. I’m very sad to be leaving after so many great times. I have loved it, my time with the club.
“I will always remember the special times we had together. Our FA Cup win in 2014 is something we will never forget. It was a great moment for me and for the club.
“I want to say thank you very much because you always give me special support. I’m very proud to be part of the club’s history.
“I want to wish you all the best, I will miss you a lot. Thank you very much again.”
There were also some nice words from compatriot and teammate Nacho Monreal, who was taken under Cazorla’s wing when he joined from Malaga in 2013.
“It has been really difficult because Santi is one of the best players for Arsenal,” Monreal told Arsenal Player.
“We miss him on the pitch and outside the pitch. You can’t imagine how important he is, every day members of staff, team-mates ask me about him so we have missed him a lot.
“I speak with him every week, we are in contact, I ask him how he feels, so we are in touch.
“Everyone loves Santi because he is a special player and special person, when you are with him you feel happy because he is laughing all the time, he is very positive in any moment and that makes you feel better when you are next to him.
“This is why he is so popular and why so many people love him.”
All the best Santi. We will miss you
*Sob*
Oh thou little two-footed happy magician, you will be so missed. here’s to wishing you well in your future endeavors. Come back sometime and cheer the team on as we win our first European trophy come May 2019.
I’m not crying
It’s the onions
The onions
I’m not crying
It’s just been raining on my face
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pVT_mvvZLo
We’ll miss you so much Santi. Hopefully we face Villarreal in the Europa league if you sign up with them.
My favourite Arsenal player over the last decade. We’ll miss you Santi.
Unlucky what happened to him ..we could of used him this season..he defo wouldn’t of been passing it sideways and backwards all the damn time
We haven’t been the same since Santi got injured,he made us tick when he went into that deeper role.
……..an absolute wizard,and the best player by far in the last ten years………..good luck Santi.
Apologies if this is a slight aside, but if you haven’t seen the Rapid Fire video with Santi and Nacho on the Arsenal YouTube channel you should check it out – it’s a delight 🙂
cant help but think santi will no longer be fit enough to play again. he might have been useful to have around to help the new gaffer settle in.
It doesn’t matter where you go. You will always be a Gunner to me, Santi.
I hope that he comes back to the Emirates soon so that he can receive the standing ovation he so richly deserves.
Aside from his fairly obvious level of skill, I will miss Santi’s attitude the most. There’s something special about watching someone play with such enjoyment – Santi to me will be the definition of doing what you love. Special guy!
I’m going to miss him. Such a quality player.
On another note, what happened to the thumbs up and down system?
Just scroll up and down with your thumb mate
I will miss him – wonderful player and even better attitude
Best wishes to you, Santi. Will miss your lovely smiles and sunny disposition.
I would love to see him take up a place in the Arsenal legends team.
Absolutely loved every moment of watching Santi. We’ll miss his enormous ability but, even more so, we’ll miss that smile and that attitude. Watching him take champions Man City apart at the Etihad will stay with me forever. Whatever you do Santi – I wish you the very best of luck at it.
thanks sant, by
My favorite player.
Never much in Spain’s set up enough, so if you listen to the fools who will throw around the ‘world class’ moniker, or throw around asists/goals statistics, you will never appreciate the brilliance of football.
Some of the best moments were Santi controlling the ball in midfield dribbling circles around bigger players.
Like Wenger, he touched the sublime, something beyond goals and titles.
All the best to him.
Hope the gentler pace in Spain helps and he gets at least a couple more seasons under his belt.
Worth reminding people again he was an Arsene Wenger coup. Off of Malaga for comparatively little in today’s terms, an absolute brilliant signing. Some pundits would not rank him because of his ‘injury issues’ but he was only injured over last 3 seasons. Before that he was an absolutely crucial player for us and one (AGAIN) Wenger re-roled into midfield from a wide area. Wenger’s strength is his acumen in market. Generally (even with Dick Law), he bought well. He has made his fair share of poor buys but on the whole bc he spends comparatively little, it is little… Read more »
Goodbye Santi we will miss your smile, your happiness and your incredible skill. One of Arsenal’s truly gifted players of all time. Sadly a bright star at Arsenal has gone out. Take care and one day – who knows you might grace the club again with your presence in another role 🙂 Many young players could learn from a player like you…
Every single player at arsenal call this guy the best player without hesitation or thought. Class all round. Hope he changes his mind and can return as a coach.
A massive loss and a true Arsenal Great!