The Premier League season starts today, and while there are still a few weeks remaining until the transfer window shuts, there are already lots of new faces in England this season. Chelsea have spent big money to bring Eden Hazard and Oscar to England, while Manchester United have acquired the exciting Shinji Kagawa from Bundesliga Champions Borussia Dortmund.
Giroud and Podolski have been brought in to bolster the Arsenal attack, and their jobs have just become even more important to the club following the departure of Robin van Persie to Manchester United. However, it is the club’s business with Malaga which could turn out to be the steal of the season. On 7 August, Arsenal announced the signing of Santi Cazorla for a fee reported to be around £15 million.
It is difficult for a player to shine outside of the top two in La Liga, such is the dominance of Barcelona and Real Madrid. Santi Cazorla was one of those players, intelligent, quick and at ease on the ball, he oozes class at all times.
Due to the club’s financial problems this summer, Malaga could not hold on to their star signing from just one year ago. The capture of Cazorla was meant to be the start of a bright future for the team from Southern Spain, but despite finishing fourth last season and qualifying for the Champions League, the Qatari owners have seemingly deserted the club and left them no choice but to sell players right at the time that they need to strengthen.
Santi Cazorla was a huge part of Malaga’s success last season, but he is more well known for his time at Villarreal. This culminated in him being part of the excellent Villarreal side of 2010/11 which also qualified for the Champions League. This side was praised around Europe for playing an exciting brand of passing attacking football in an innovative 4-2-2-2 formation. Alongside Cani, Santi Cazorla played as an attacking wide player who often looked to move into the centre of the pitch. Cani and Cazorla developed an excellent understanding with the two strikers, Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi, and the movement of this front 4 was the key to the team’s success.
Malaga not being able to hold onto Cazorla has been great news for Arsenal, allowing them to sign the 27 year old Spanish international at a great price. Santi Cazorla is a wonderfully gifted footballer who will relish playing in Arsenal’s system. He is a brilliant passer of the ball, a goalscorer, a skillful and serene dribbler and he also takes a devastatingly good free-kick. In a market where bloated transfer fees are the norm and bargains are rarely seen, Arsene Wenger has completed a very shrewd piece of business with Malaga.
Arsenal fans should try to forget about the disappointment of losing Robin van Persie, because in Santi Cazorla you have made the signing of the summer!