---
title: "Flashback: Arsenal’s Dani Ceballos could be their temporary heir to Santi Cazorla"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/flashback-arsenals-dani-ceballos-could-be-their-temporary-heir-to-santi-cazorla/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Stephan Georgiou"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2019-10-07T20:15:54Z"
modified: "2019-10-07T20:15:54Z"
---

# Flashback: Arsenal’s Dani Ceballos could be their temporary heir to Santi Cazorla

**In our latest instalment of the Flashback series, we take a look back at a certain moment and look at how things might have changed those initial reactions.**

The summer of 2012 perhaps doesn’t bring back many happy memories for Arsenal fans. Sure, another season of [Champions League football](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17973141) was secured in May, though the departure of [captain and top scorer](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/05/14/3102542/van-persie-wins-premier-league-golden-boot) [Robin van Persie](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19296077) could easily have put a dampener on the off-season.

However, days before the Dutchman left for Old Trafford, a future Arsenal hero arrived. The legacy he would go on to leave behind was in stark contrast to his diminutive [size](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/santi-cazorla/profil/spieler/15799), as [Santi Cazorla](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19086404) had become a firm favourite among the fans by the time his Gunners days came to an end in 2018:

> [pic.twitter.com/nKNG79oOXx](https://t.co/nKNG79oOXx)
>
> — P™ (@SemperFiArsenal) [May 21, 2018](https://twitter.com/SemperFiArsenal/status/998618355895386112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> The most underrated Arsenal midfielder of all time, such a class and such a talent![#GraciasSanti](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GraciasSanti?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/3av77EH51E](https://t.co/3av77EH51E)
>
> — TheUnaiView (@TheUnaiView) [May 21, 2018](https://twitter.com/TheUnaiView/status/998620033474551815?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Thanks for the memories little [pic.twitter.com/U8gJedYhXp](https://t.co/U8gJedYhXp)
>
> — AUBAGANG (@WoolWitchGooner) [May 21, 2018](https://twitter.com/WoolWitchGooner/status/998618452175683584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Such a magical player to watch. Thank you for everything. [#GraciasSanti](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GraciasSanti?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — ً (@sidvillainy) [May 21, 2018](https://twitter.com/sidvillainy/status/998620634757369856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Cazorla endured an [injury-ravaged](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/santi-cazorla/verletzungen/spieler/15799) end to his time in North London, which had halted a marvellous career at Arsenal, during which he helped the club to two successive [FA Cups](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/santi-cazorla/erfolge/spieler/15799) – ending the club’s nine-year wait for a major trophy (with his teammates going on to repeat the success without him in [2017](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39984089)).

There is no shortage of Arsenal memories when it comes to Cazorla – be it his first goal at [Anfield](https://www.arsenal.com/match/report/1213/post/first-team/liverpool-0-2-arsenal-match-report), his match-salvaging [free-kick](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27354148) in the 2014 FA Cup final, or his mastermind of a performance against then-champions [Manchester City](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30766356) that transcended old rivalries as even former Tottenham man [Gary Lineker](https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/556869300959854593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E556869300959854593%7Ctwgr%5E363937393b70726f64756374696f6e&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.101greatgoals.com%2Fblog%2Fsanti-cazorla-hailed-as-arsenal-stun-man-city-in-2-0-win-at-the-etihad-best-tweets%2F) could not help but wax lyrical over the Spaniard in January 2015.

It could be argued that Arsenal had not seen a player like him at the Emirates Stadium since his departure to Villarreal, though this summer, some fans were hoping that the signing of [Dani Ceballos](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49117667) on loan from Real Madrid would give the Gunners a taste of what they may have been missing over the last few seasons, even if only temporarily:

> It will be a pleasure to watch Ceballos at Arsenal. Kind of the midfielder the club missed since Cazorla/Wilshere left. Technically superb and brave. He possess great acceleration and flair. Arsenal needed a ball carrying midfielder, who´s also very good in tight spaces. [#AFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/AFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/aEVPyIWYE7](https://t.co/aEVPyIWYE7)
>
> — Renato (@rehnato) [July 25, 2019](https://twitter.com/rehnato/status/1154388260875067393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> I really hope Ceballos is the real deal. We haven’t had any decent first phase build up since we lost Cazorla
>
> — David Trezeguet (@eugene\_101) [July 25, 2019](https://twitter.com/eugene_101/status/1154502665205796864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Here’s me hoping Ceballos & Torreira can be our new Cazorla & Coquelin [#HolaDani](https://twitter.com/hashtag/HolaDani?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Viz (@VizuaLizah) [July 25, 2019](https://twitter.com/VizuaLizah/status/1154390873393618944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Ceballos bringing back those Cesc Fabregas/Santi Cazorla vibes back at the Arsenal for next season. Love to see it [#afc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/afc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Rhys (@RhysK\_AFC) [July 25, 2019](https://twitter.com/RhysK_AFC/status/1154389153666277376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

It is easy to see why such comparisons have been made – with [Cazorla’s](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/4522/History/Santi-Cazorla) passing rate consistently reaching levels above 85% across his seasonal performances for Arsenal, even if his latter campaigns may appear a little skewed due to the lack of appearances he was able to make towards the end of his career in N5.

Meanwhile, Ceballos, who [opened his account](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49874359) for the Gunners on Thursday night in the Europa League, is currently posting a [pass success rate](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/144890/History/Dani-Ceballos) of 89% in eight Premier League appearances to date.

Given his [average rating](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/144890/History/Dani-Ceballos) (as per WhoScored) of 8.01 across his five appearances for Spain at the Under-21 European Championships in June, Ceballos certainly looks like a prospect on the up, and although he may not be expected to [stick around](https://as.com/futbol/2019/07/25/primera/1564046936_310800.html?m1=cG9ydGFkYV9wb3J0YWRh&m2=QUNUVUFMSURBRA%3D%3D&m3=MQ%3D%3D&m4=bm9ybWFs&m5=MjA%3D) at Arsenal, he may nevertheless be capable of evoking the memories of a predecessor as the Gunners’ Spanish magician.

***Arsenal fans, can Dani Ceballos have an impact like Cazorla did this season? Join the discussion by commenting below!***