Santi Cazorla says he’s not sure when he’s going to be back in action as continues to suffer with an Achilles problem.
The Spanish international aggravated a long-standing niggle in the 6-0 win over Ludogorets last month, and has remained sidelined ever since.
Speaking to Cadena Cope in Spain, he said he was doing his best to make a comeback, but couldn’t put an exact date on a return to the first team.
“Well, I still don’t know the exact time,” he said. “I am trying to return as soon as soon as possible to be with the team again but I cannot say if it will be soon or if I still have a few weeks left.
“That is what I don’t know, but hopefully it will be as soon as possible.”
Fingers crossed he’s not kept out as long as last season with this issue which has been described as ‘chronic’, and the little maestro will be back asap.
Ugh. This is not what I wanted to hear. We’re not at our absolute best unless we have Cazorla and Coquelin as our CDMs.
Plus, he just looks like such a happy little elf when he’s playing, it lifts my heart watching him.
Get well soon, Santi!
Oh crap.
Time for Xhaka to step up.
I agree… I see xhaka’s passing and distribution as a perfect replacement for cazzy in the long term
And Rambo
Actually this might be the time for Xhaka and Ramsey to take hold of that middle positions. I love Santi and Coq as the middle field paring. Santi probably is at the peak of his career but every time he has been injured, our form seems to suffer. Despite the depth in the squad, we seem to struggle to fill Santi’s role in the team. Although we seem to have a good set of center mids, like Wenger mentioned its a complementary pair similar to the Coq and Santi that we are missing. So, hopefully Ramsey and Xhaka are able… Read more »
What about Elneny?
I hope he does, and I know its still fairly early doors, but Xhaka doesn’t fill me with confidence when on the ball. Santi almost never looses it… both Xhaka and Rambo seem more likely to be picked off.
In fact, from what I’ve seen it seems to me that elneny is the one closest to Santi in that regard, able to wiggle out of tight space… but then maybe his passing is less incisive, though that wasn’t the case against Ludogorets to put Ozil through.
Maybe my perception is skewed by not watching enough. Thoughts?
Get well soonest Santi. We need you. Our midfield lacks a certain fluency that only Santi can provide.
Love Cazorla, but don’t agree with this. I get the feeling people’s reaction to Santi’s absence seems a bit influenced by how our quality dropped last season when he was injured. What’s happened since is very important. Aside from signing Mustafi and playing Alexis’ up front, the additions of Xhaka and Elneny has been the key improvement to our team compared with this time last year. They might not possess quite the same technique Cazorla does, but they’re excellent at building play from defence to attack (Xhaka in particular, who I feel will grow more and more important as the… Read more »
I have a bad feeling about this…….Santi is my favourite player, in my opinion the best player we have had post Fabregas era, a truly special player. Achilles injuries are painstakingly difficult to overcome, they can be so unpredictable. Really hope we see him again soon but we’ve been down this road too many time……*weeps to himself*
I agree..best player since Fabregas and RVP, my favourite player too. This injury was inevitable, Wenger played him every single game he was available for. Before every game, I hoped he’d be rested, but he would be on the team sheet. I knew this would happen sooner or later.
Doesn’t look good. If he’s not in training and not sure when he’ll be coming back then it’s another 2-4 weeks. FFS, why do we always get these injuries?
Better than Ozil and Alexis? I love Santi but not sure I’m with you there.
I think he is on that level yes.
He lacks goals but he is seriously one of our 3 world class players to me.
I know we bought Ozil and Sanchez from big clubs with a hefty price, but Santi is huge; hasn’t played for real or barca but regular for spain..
I understand he’s a key player for us…but with his recent history, wenger shouldnt have made him play that much games. Despite how tempting it is to start your key players, i’ll rather see them get a game or two off than lose them for months.
I miss Santi :((
Give him a new contract!!
As a kid I got into the Hale End academy, and played for 2 years (age 10-12) until a tear in my Achilles tendon left me with tendinitis that I couldn’t shift and so I had to give up.
When I heard Santi had Achilles tendon tendinitis I was worried. Now he doesn’t know how long until he’s back. I remember that feeling all too well.
Bad news. Really bad news.
Sorry dude, that’s rough.
We need our Santi Claus ready for the Christmas games!
Get well soon Mighty Mouse!!!
COYG! So glad the bloody interlull is over. It’s especially boring for Canadian fans (our national team is really terrible).
If he’s not put the effort to get back for Christmas I propose a new film.
Bad Santi.
IMO, we lost the league when he got injured. He really does hold our midfield together and he keeps the entire team moving.
I expect we will shift the ball differently now as people say, with Xhaka and others. We will have to because there is nobody like Santi on the planet no? Love him.
This makes me a sad panda 🙁
Get well soon Santi
Let the medics decide the date. We miss you. No?
GUTE BESSERUNG SANTI…COYG ON SATURDAY…
Hoping for a swift recovery…in the meantime i.m also hoping for a Xhaka/ Elneny or Coquelin bast to the midfield.
i think given the fact that santi is 30+ , and recent injury that prove to be costly
We need to find another magician .
i love him i really do , but he can’t play long season .
out team lack of something whe he miss a game.
my best shot for now is verrati or thiago .
Santi is the arsenal playmaker and I love his style and he always very happy in the field come back soon Santi we miss you
Seàn