Most neutrals observing Arsenal’s transfer dealings this summer would hardly have batted an eye lid at the return of ex-midfielder Mathieu Flamini, unless of course they wanted to lambast Arsene Wenger continuous habit of not spending any money.
That habit is surely untrue though as Wenger signed Villarreal’s “Ronaldinho” in 2012 – Santi Cazorla’s nickname at the La Liga club. The Spanish midfielder actually moved to the Emirates from Malaga but it is his nickname at the club where he made his La Liga debut that brings a smile to most peoples faces.
“I like to smile. I try to bring happiness on and off the pitch,” says the Spaniard.
“I don’t understand how you play football without joy.” And when you watch Santi it is hard not to smile.
What has changed?
The 28-year-old midfielder has been speaking to Sid Lowe from the Guardian and it is his views on Flamini in particular that arouses interest, he has talks about the expensive German and how a few things have changed this year.
On some of his team mates, Cazorla said: "Flamini does a hidden job. Who gives the assist? Mesut. Who scores the goals? Giroud.
“Giroud's playing with more confidence. Last year he never quite became undisputed first choice: the manager tried Walcott, Gervinho, Podolski. This year Giroud started well, scored a lot, won the trust of the manager and the fans, and he's grown. He's fundamental.”
The return of ‘Gattuso’
Giroud certainly is fundamental but so is Flamini – whose nickname was Gattuso during his first spell in north London. Us fans know, well I hope we do, what the French midfielder does on the pitch but do neutrals?
"Players like Flamini are vital,” says Santi, who more than most will appreciate the qualities of the combative midfielder.
“Balance, positioning, intelligence. Flamini is like a coach on the pitch, he runs all game, he's intense, well positioned. It's not coincidence.
“And Aaron Ramsay has been incredible. I really liked him already but now he's so consistent, playing well every single game.
“You see the confidence: he dares to try everything and it's coming off. We can't load him down with responsibility but he's been superb."
The record signing
When talking about Arsenal you can’t not discuss Mesut Ozil, one of the best players in the world now playing at the Emirates, although one who plays in Cazorla’s position?
With that in mind was the Spaniard happy about Ozil’s signing, was he as excited as every Arsenal fan across the globe or was he selfish and rather than think about the positivity his presence would bring to the team did he sulk and say ‘why is he coming, they have me’. Of course he didn’t. This is Santi, the smiling Spaniard.
A kid at Christmas
He openly admits he was “like a little kid” when Ozil’s signing was announced, the type on Christmas day.
Cazorla added:
“I was getting really excited. A great player’s coming and one you know you’re going to fit with, enjoy playing with. I was a fan, looking forward to it.”
So like us fans was he as puzzled as we were as to why Real Madrid would be letting this supremely talented player leave? “It was strange,” Cazorla says. “I spoke to friends at Real Madrid who told me that Mesut was talking to Arsenal, that he wanted to leave.
“You hear about it but you still see it as something a long way off. You think, ‘How are Madrid going to let Mesut go?’ It’s puzzling. He’s one of the best in the world and you don’t really believe it. We were talking about it: ‘It’s close… it could happen… they’ve agreed’ Then one day the manager said: ‘We’ve signed Mesut.’ And the happiness was immense.
“He can seem intermittent but when he has the ball he’s different. You get that feeling something’s going to happen. It’s palpable. He has huge quality and we’re lucky he chose us when he had other options. The manager playing him as media-punta, where he performs best. Our style suits him and with time so will the Premier League.”
Let’s hope we also see Mesut lifting trophies at the Emirates alongside Cazorla. And with the duo together anything is possible.
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