Why Wenger deserves credit for Arsenal star’s rise in stature

Santi Cazorla has reveled in his new role deeper in midfield, saying he feels honoured to be given such a prominent role in the side. He joined the side as centre attacking midfielder from Malaga, but was employed mainly on the wings for Arsene Wenger’s side.

The arrivals of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez saw Wenger move Cazorla to a deep lying role alongside Francis Coquelin, and the 30 year old Spaniard has been playing his best football ever since.

His sensational close control and passing range makes him the ideal distributor from deep, and his ability to retain possession and wriggle out of tight spaces means he controls the tempo in the middle of the park.

Wenger alluded to this in his explanation of the switch recently, telling the official website that Cazorla is integral to Arsenal’s build up play.

“Cazorla is important [at] the start of the game when the ball comes from our defenders, because he can pass from deep midfield to high midfield better than everybody and get out of pressure,” the boss said.

“That’s why I positioned him more central. He is not any more a player on the flanks who can overlap and cross the ball.”

It is a move that has paid dividends, with Cazorla leading the team in assists last season with 11. Deep lying play makers are always difficult to mark and keep track of, especially one as clever and creative as Santi. Marking him would just leave gaps for him to find his teammates, something he does superbly well.

He seems to enjoy starting from deep to receive the ball, and this way he is much more heavily involved in the move from start to finish. He just keeps the side ticking over with his combinations and ability to retain possession.

With the like of Ozil, Sanchez, and Ramsey running about and interchanging ahead of him, he positions himself in dangerous areas from the space left behind. It is a subtle change but a brilliant one, and the boss deserves some credit for making the switch.