Arsenal punters in the Transfer Tavern are concerned Santi Cazorla’s days may well be numbered at the Emirates Stadium.
The Spanish midfielder has established himself as a firm fan favourite in north London since arriving from Malaga in summer 2012, first impressing as an attacking player and then proving himself equally adept at pulling the strings in deep-lying midfield.
But injuries have severely limited his game-time over the last two campaigns, making only 23 Premier League appearances since the beginning of 2015/16, and he’ll now be out of action for the rest of the season after picking up an ankle injury in October.
Already aged 32, Cazorla’s Arsenal career may well be coming to an abrupt end, especially if the Gunners change managers when Arsene Wenger’s contract expires at the end of the season.
With that in mind, our landlord has outlined three perfect successors to the Spain international who Arsenal should target during the next transfer window.
Can any of these three replace Cazorla, Arsenal fans? Have we overlooked an obvious choice? Let us know by commenting below!
Koke
A hardworking yet extremely talented playmaker, Koke would suit Arsenal’s style of play perfectly but also bring something a little different to their midfield. Indeed, the 25-year-old balances industriousness and technical ability in the exact manner you’d expect of a Spain midfielder playing in a Diego Simeone side, this season averaging 2.5 tackles and 2.1 created chances per match. Having risen through their youth system, Koke is fiercely loyal to the Atletico cause, but he may be tempted to Simeone to the Emirates Stadium if the Argentine replaces Arsene Wenger.
Tiemoue Bakayoko
A completely different type of midfielder to Cazorla yet arguably the type Arsenal need more. Indeed, Tiemoue Bakayoko is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the best midfield powerhouses in Europe, performing exceptionally at the heart of a Monaco side that almost claimed an incredible upset against Manchester City earlier this week and is currently averaging almost three goals per game in Ligue 1. That being said, the Frenchman isn’t all just physicality; he’s got quality on the ball too and some have even compared the 22-year-old to a young Yaya Toure.
Isco
Somewhat a kindred spirit with Santi Cazorla, Isco isn’t particularly strong or quick but has the technical quality and intelligence to compensate. The Spaniard currently plies his trade with Real Madrid but has failed to hold down a role in their starting XI since arriving from Malaga in 2013 – where he’d previously won Europe’s prestigious Golden Boy award. Unquestionably a fantastic creative talent, however, with netting prowess thrown in for good measure, finding regular game-time elsewhere could quickly see the 24-year-old flourish. A move at the end of the season seems likely, but many clubs will be interest if he decides to leave the Bernabeu.
