Arsenal midfield sensation Santi Cazorla spent the majority of last season playing in a much deeper role than he had previously been used to, and while some may think that this is a negative move for the ambidextrous 30-year-old, Santi himself sees it as a vital part of his development as a footballer.
Since moving to the deeper role, playing alongside the more-defensive minded Francis Coquelin has allowed Cazorla to get on the ball much more than he was previously used to, often being the player to have the most touches in a game.
Some may argue that Cazorla was moved into the deeper role in order to accommodate £42.4m signing Mesut Ozil, whose appearances from the wide-left role were less than impressive, but since moving to his favoured role just behind the striker, has begun to excel and prove his worth to the side.
Speaking to Arsenal Player, Santi admitted that he was completely ready for the change of position and feels much more comfortable stating his reasons why: “I’m always ready to play in any position on the field.
“Luckily I’ve played in many different places, such as both wings, behind the striker or as a midfielder. Therefore, I am no stranger to this new position.
“As soon as the manager informed me about my role change, I told him I was ready for it. To be honest I’ve found myself very comfortable in this new position since the very first day.
” I’m a player who needs to touch the ball as much as possible and for any possible purpose on the pitch, from giving an assist to a short pass.”
The talented midfielder went on to discuss his delight when playing for Arsenal, hailing his new position: “The more I touch the ball, the more confident I get and that’s why I need to have contact with the ball. If I don’t touch it for a period of time I feel uneasy.
“Thanks to playing in this new position, I’m touching the ball a lot and that makes me happy. I’m loving my new position on the pitch.”
The experienced Spain international is known as one of the happiest characters both on and off the pitch, and when asked about the atmosphere at the club, he said: “I believe that happiness and togetherness are positive values that are reflected on the pitch.
“I’m not the only happy character at the club. Alexis [Sanchez], for example, is always joking around. The very nice environment we have in the changing room certainly has an impact on the game.
“Players feel at ease, which is good for creativity, but it works the other way round too. If there’s a bad environment in the club it will affect performance, so I believe it’s very important to have a good time together off the pitch as that will have a positive impact on the team’s performances.”
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