Pundit: Forget Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal miss this player
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes Arsenal have really felt the absence of Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla
Arsenal have really missed Santi Cazorla in the 2016-17 Premier League campaign, according to Danny Murphy.
The Gunners have endured a tough 2017 so far as Arsene Wenger’s side crashed out of the Champions League in humiliating fashion.
Arsenal lost 10-2 to Bundesliga holders Bayern Munich in the Champions League last 16 last month following a 5-1 loss at The Emirates.
The north London side have lost four of their last five Premier League games to leave Arsene Wenger’s side in sixth place in the table.
The Gunners have lost to Chelsea and Liverpool on the road in recent months and Arsenal will host Manchester City at The Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez have failed to commit to the north London club following unsuccessful contract negotiations earlier this term.
Speaking to the Evening Standard about Ozil and Sanchez, former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Murphy believes Cazorla has been a huge miss for Arsenal.
“The Sanchez/Ozil situation has been discussed at length, as has the future of Arsene Wenger. Yet there is another key factor in Arsenal’s poor form that I don’t think has been mentioned enough and that is the absence of Santi Cazorla.
“Cazorla made the last of his 11 appearances this season in the 6-0 win over Ludogorets on October 19. An ankle injury has kept him out of action ever since and you cannot help but miss a player of his quality.
“The Sanchez/Ozil situation has been discussed at length, as has the future of Arsene Wenger. Yet there is another key factor in Arsenal’s poor form that I don’t think has been mentioned enough and that is the absence of Santi Cazorla.
“Cazorla made the last of his 11 appearances this season in the 6-0 win over Ludogorets on October 19. An ankle injury has kept him out of action ever since and you cannot help but miss a player of his quality.”
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Cazorla hasn’t featured for Arsenal since October.
