#2 Santi Cazorla is fit and raring to go for the 2016/17 season
Cazorla hasn’t had the best record in terms of fitness since his arrival at the Emirates Stadium. The Spaniard has spent a total of 176 days on the sidelines due to injury. In the 2015/16 season, he missed a large majority of Arsenal’s fixtures - 27 to be exact.
Since the arrival of Mesut Ozil in the squad, Cazorla has had to readjust his role in the team. However, with the German playmaker himself unfit for the beginning of the season, Wenger will most probably look to Cazorla to play in his favoured number 10 role. It was in this position that the Spaniard started the game.
The 31-year-old had a tough start to the game. He failed to give his team an early lead in the 4th minute when he was unable to convert a penalty won by Mathieu Debuchy. Shortly afterwards he was on the ground, clutching his ankle in pain, as he was on the receiving end of a rough tackle by Usman Sale.
After his unfortunate start, Cazorla put on a masterful performance. He scored a screamer with his supposed ‘weak foot’, beating the helpless goalkeeper from outside the box. He also went on to get an assist to his name. He was intricately involved in most of Arsenal’s attacking moves, and Arsene Wenger will be happy to see the Spaniard fit and firing again.
