Tag Archives: Santi Cazorla

Tomas Rosicky’s contract – Cazorla off, Cech in?

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So this morning Arsenal have extended Tomas Rosicky’s contract by a further year, taking the 34 year old attacking midfielders Arsenal career into a 10th year. And I am sitting here wondering “What’s the point?” For me, there seems to be no logic to it.

An injury hit career at Arsenal, a wonderful talent who has just not been on the pitch enough to express himself. When signed in 2006, I was excited. The man to replace Robert Pires. He was, for me, one of the top attacking midfielders in the world. As good as Kaka, with the two of them shining at the 2006 World Cup. And then the injuries began, and never really ended.

Over the last few years, he has put in some good cameos. Strung a few performances together where he has reminded us of his talent, got his new contact, and then broken down again.

This season, he has been even more of a bit part players. He has played just 567 Premier League minutes. At £3,500,000 a year, that works out at £6,172 a minute. And with squad restrictions, in both the Premier League and Champions League, resigning Rosicky, even at a lower wage, is illogical. He takes up salary and a squad place that could go to someone else who would see more pitch time.

The only logical reason is that Rosicky signing ties in with two potential transfer moves this summer.

Santi Cazorla was heavily linked to a return to Spain last summer. Rumours of being home sick. And with Atletico having a bit of money to spend, having just won the league, it looked a good fit. He remained at Arsenal. The rumours could return this year, and it would not be surprising to see him leave, with him being used as a very small make weight in a deal for Antoine Griezmann. That would leave us 1 player short in central attacking midfield, and free up the space for Rosicky to play a bit more.

Could Rosicky signing his new deal mean Cazorla is off?

On the other hand, it could link in with a player coming in. Petr Cech.

Cech and Rosicky are close friends. They socialise together, they party together. A year between them, they grew up. Born just 56 miles apart, they grew up in the Czech youth teams together, and have been key players for their country over the year. They are captain and vice captain of their country.

Whilst Cech is still a world class goal keeper and one we are certainly interested in, Rosicky is certainly not a world class midfielder. But if keeping Rosicky means that Cech joins, it is a great deal. I am sure Cech was one of the first Rosicky would be phoning today letting him know he is staying…

“Hi Petr, its Tommy, got some great news, I am staying at Arsenal”

“That is great news Tommy, I am so happy for you”

“So you coming to join me then”

If keeping Tomas means that Petr signs, I am more than happy with that.

Keenos

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She Wore badgepins and ribbon from the shop (click image)

 

A deep future ahead for Santi Cazorla?

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After yesterday’s victory against Middlesbrough, I had a brief exchange with GC about the future of Santi Cazorla. This got the old brain cogs going.

Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil. all brilliant players, but how do you get them all on the pitch, at the same time, in a formation that get’s the best out of all of them?

I imagine Arsene Wenger’s original plan when he bought Alexis Sanchez was that he would play as a striker. With similar attributes to Luis Suarez (without the violent, biting, racist tendencies), it looked like a role which could suit him. That would then enable Wenger to play Cazorla, Ozil & Walcott in behind. But Sanchez looked lost upfront.

The next solution was 4141. With injuries (to Walcott) at the time, it meant there was even enough space to put Ramsey and/or Wilshere in the side. Again, it did not work.

In recent games, however, there have been signs of a new tactic, new positioning, which is showing signs of working. Playing Santi Cazorla deeper.

I first noticed this in the victory against Manchester City. Whilst he was supposed to be the more advanced of the 3 man midfield, he put in a tremendous defensive shift. He got a goal and an assist, but it was his ability in his own half that impressed me.

Tackles, clearances, interceptions, blocked shots, passing out of trouble and running the ball clear. He was an all action midfielder. He showed the attributes required to play in what I call the ‘Waterboy Role’. The man to carry the ball off the defence and defensive midfielder, and link in with the attacking players.

Yesterday against Middlesbrough, he once more played the role, and yes, I know he was up against a Championship side, but it worked.

His ability to play out of danger is impressive. Being two footed, it means he always has a pass on. He also has the ability to beat a player, opening the pitch up more.

Whilst he does not have the pace to play on the wing, meaning that his ability to beat a man is negated as they get straight back on him, in the middle of the park, his skills give him the extra half second to then play the right ball.

With his natural ability, he rarely needs to boot the ball clear. He always creates a situation where a successful pass is on.

Against Middlesbrough, he attempted 114 passes at a 91.2% success rate.

He also showed plenty of signs of linking up with Mesut Ozil ahead of him. Ozil’s stats were similarly impressive. 97 passes at 92.8% success. With the pair of them in the middle, you feel we have the opportunity to pass ourselves out of any situation.

With Cazorla playing deeper, it would also allow us to spring onto the counter attacker quicker. He is a better passer than Aaron Ramsey, and plays the ball quicker. Rather than Ramsey getting the ball, than having to play it to Cazorla or Ozil ahead of him, which slows the play down, it means we can launch the ball from deeper, and go both way’s. Especially with Mikel Arteta currently out, Cazorla adds the extra passing prowess to build from the back.

Of course, there are some down sides. Cazorla is not naturally defensive, and his slight frame could leave us exposed. These would both be solved if we went and signed a bully of a defensive midfielder to play in behind him, to protect him, to do the work of 2 men allowing Cazorla to be a bit free’r.

And obviously, it was just Middlesbrough. Could we play the formation against a better side who could possibly expose a defensive weakness? Probably not. But that is where tactical flexibility comes into it.

At home, against 70% of Premier League sides, we have most of the ball and dictate the play. We could play Cazorla deep, with Ozil in ahead, as we do very little defending. Against the better sides, where we might not have as much of the ball, you change it round, dropping either Ozil or Cazorla for someone a bit more physical, a bit more defensive.

In the past, I have always felt Cazorla performs better deeper. It allows him the freedom of the pitch, opening up a lot of grass for him to play into. Whilst he is dangerous around the edge of the area, playing deeper allows him to build up with the play.

Where this tactical change would also leave Ramsey and Wilshere is also questionable. Before, it was a case of these two fighting out for the Waterboy Role, with Cazorla and Ozil fighting it out for the Number 10. Moving Cazorla deeper, on a more semi-permanent basis will reduce their playing time.

Then again, both Wilshere and Ramsey spend so much of their time out injured, it would not create a massive issue. And with Wilshere being just 23, and Cazorla now 30, it could be a simple case of Wilshere being Cazorla’s successor.

What is for certain is playing Cazorla deeper allows us to play Ozil in his natural position, with Sanchez one side and Walcott the other.

All we need to do is buy a top defensive midfielder to support him.

Keenos

 

We’ve got Mezut Mezut Ozil on the wing…on the wing !

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Firstly I will admit the starting 11 yesterday Vs Everton looked spot on, it looked fresh, exciting and full of attacking options, sadly that didn’t turn out to be the case. We almost set up like a counter attacking side against a team who have been perfecting this skill over the last year or so under Martinez.

Ozil out wide left does not work, it’s never worked in the past and won’t work in the future. Yes Ozil has played successfully in that role for Germany, but he has the worlds best left back behind him to cover.  Ozil like many a left midfielder Wenger has tried since he sold Pires (too soon) is bloody useless at tracking back, it’s just not his game, he loses his man at key moments and without even bothering to read the gutter press this morning I’m sure he’s blamed for Everton’s first goal.

The left midfield is fast becoming our graveyard position….

Reyes – Never the same after Neville kicked him

Arshavin – A number 10 played out wide where he lost interest and looked lazy

Gervinho – Lost all form once he came to us

Podolski – The most natural finisher we have (had) but like Ozil he can’t defend

Santi – Cuts inside too much, gives us no width

The problem is Wenger seems to like buying small tidy tippy tappy players who are versatile, when what he should be doing is identifying where we are weak and buying players to fit into that position. Round holes and square pegs springs to mind over and over again. There is little or no point buying £30mill plus players then not building a team around them, Ozil needs to play as a number 10, he needs runners around him, he needs no defensive duties in our box and then we will get the best out of him.