When Arsenal signed Santi Cazorla from Malaga, it was the start of something beautiful. The Spaniard was unfortunate to be born in the same era as Andres Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, David Silva, Xavi Hernandez and the likes, as he would have been one of the stars of the Spanish national team were it not for those guys.
With Arsenal, however, it is a completely different story as he has been one of their best players ever since joining the club. While Ozil and Alexis Sanchez might be the stars of the team, it is Cazorla who keeps the tempo ticking as he gives life to Arsene Wenger’s system.
Unfortunately, however, injuries have hampered his career over the past couple of seasons and with no return date on the horizon, with some reports suggesting that he might be out for the rest of the year, the Gunners should look for alternatives.
And here are five of them.
#5 Naby Keita
Whenever Cazorla is not fit and doesn’t play on the pitch, Arsenal lack a midfielder who could gift the forwards with creativity from deep. While Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain is talented, he is not someone who could set the temp from the deep and provide the necessary creativity from there just yet.
But Naby Keita can – and he is pretty damn good at it.
Indeed, if a list of the most underrated midfielders is compiled, Keita would certainly be on it – although the constant links with Liverpool have made him somewhat famous. RB Leipzig were the surprise package of Bundesliga, finishing second ahead of Borussia Dortmund, and Keita was the architect of the Leipzig’s dream season.
A midfielder in the Santi Cazorla mould, at his best, Keita can do everything, just like Cazorla as a holding playmaker does. Keita is a good dribbler who can get out of tight spaces, has the vision to make deadly passes and the tenacity to shield the defence. And, like Cazorla, he is short and lacks aerial ability.
He is the all-round package and he will be a great signing should Arsenal nab him from under Liverpool’s nose.
#4 Marco Verratti
This would be an expensive proposition given that even Barcelona are trying to acquire his services and Paris-Saint Germain don’t seem like they would budge for anything less than €80 million.
Given that the transfer market is at its inflated best, €80 million is more than a fair price for a player that has been playing at the top level for five years. Even though he is a different kind of player than Santi Cazorla, he provides creativity from midfield that helps the team unlock many a backline.
At Arsenal, with Lacazette almost signed, he would be the perfect creative hub from deep midfield. Another understated ability of the Italian is being able to defensively position himself properly. This allows him to guard the backline without being very messy in the process.
#3 Miralem Pjanic
If there is any player that bears a close resemblance to the Spaniard, it is the Bosnian. The Champions League runners-up was an attacking midfielder during his time at Roma but was shunted in deep midfield alongside Sami Khedira at Juventus – just like Cazorla at Arsenal.
And he adapted very well. The midfielder has not only been a source of playmaking from deep, but he has improved his defending abilities which now allows him to guard the backline better. And, like Cazorla, he likes to spray the possession as much as possible and set the tempo of the team.
However, given that he was signed just last year for €32 million, Arsenal would have to pay some serious money to bring him to the Emirates this season.
#2 Leon Goretzka
One of the young stars of the German Bundesliga, Leon Goretzka was one of the members in Germany’s Confederations Cup triumph some days ago. The Schalke prodigy is being monitored by Arsenal, according to some reports, as Wenger eyes the young German as the ideal Santi Cazorla replacement.
Goretzka might only be 22 years old, but he has already played in 116 games for Schalke and has stamped himself as one of the key members at Gelsenkirchen. A midfielder with an eye for a pass, Goretzka also possesses a wicked long shot while also being defensive adept to guard the backline. And with a height of 189 cm, he also has a strong aerial ability.
In short, he is a complete midfielder that would cope up well with the physicality of the Premiership.
#1 Mateo Kovacic
With Real Madrid’s reluctance to sell their natural Luka Modric replacement, it will be hard for Gunners to land Mateo Kovacic. Unless, Dani Ceballos is signed from Real Betis—and the chances, it seems, are high.
If Ceballos is signed, the Blancos might be tempted to let go of their prized Croat asset for a significant fee. The former Inter player was signed for €30 million and Arsenal will have to place a bid much higher than that to acquire his services.
The young midfielder is talented and can play in a number of midfield positions. From deep-lying playmaker to attacking midfielder, Arsenal will have signed a player who cannot only replace Cazorla but also Mesut Ozil should the German be injured.
His time playing in front of the defence for Madrid has improved his defensive abilities and with more playing time at Arsenal, he can surely go on to become one of the finest midfielders in the Premier League.
