Santi Cazorla In Deep Trouble: Wenger Hints At Scrapping The Midfielder In January
Dec 4, 2016 at 2:31 PM
Arsene Wenger has revealed he will make a decision regarding the option to extend Santi Cazorla’s contract in January.
The Spaniard is an integral part of the Arsenal team when fit, but a severe ankle injury has kept the Spaniard out of action since October, and yesterday news arrived that Cazorla would miss another three months of action.
Furthermore, the midfielder’s contract at the Emirates runs out at the end of the season, and despite the fact that the 31-year-old is obviously a terrific player, his poor record with injuries may hamper his chances of an extension with the London outfit.
Wenger addressed this yesterday:
‘Six months left. We have an option (to extend).
‘We can take this option. I would like to speak about that with Santi Cazorla before I speak with the press.
‘I haven’t spoken to him. The decision will be taken in January.’
The reliable ‘Pablo’ on Twitter revealed recently that Jack Wilshere will be rewarded with the offer of a new deal for his performances on loan with AFC Bournemouth, as well as the fact that Cazorla would be allowed to move on after the end of the 2016/17 campaign.
However, attempts to pair Mohamed Elneny and Francis Coquelin have so far been largely unsuccessful, and Wenger does not seem to favour new acquisition Granit Xhaka, who arrived in the summer as the captain of Borussia Monchengladbach.
While it would be a strange turn of events for a club like Arsenal to move in January for Cazorla’s potential replacement, it may be necessary if Wenger does indeed decide to let him go.
One of our suggested targets for the Gunners – Nice’s Vincent Koziello – could be an astute move, with the Frenchman’s stock only likely to rise as the months go on.
However, many Arsenal fans will see Cazorla as irreplaceable, and it will be a sad day for most when the fan favourite eventually leaves.