Why this midfield magician is vital for Arsenal’s Premier League run-in

Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud

There were calls from certain sections of the Emirates Stadium crowd for Santi Cazorla to be dropped at the back end of 2013 but his 2014 renaissance has already yielded four goals an an assist.

Were it not for the rapid adaptation period Cazorla undertook during his maiden season in Premier League football, Arsenal would almost certainly have lost out to a Gareth Bale-inspired Tottenham Hotspur in the race for Champions League football.

Throw into the mix, of course, that their participation in the elite European football competition was one of the crucial factors behind their successful pursuit of Mesut Özil, the Robin to Cazorla’s Batman if not the other way round, and Cazorla’s role in Arsenal’s recent history becomes all the more significant.

His ability to carve out chances, almost at will, was paramount in helping Arsenal to pip their neighbours into fourth spot, producing a stunning 12 goals and 11 assists, most coming at crucial times, to see his new side over the line.

His performance against Crystal Palace showed signs that he is returning to that irresistible form as Arsenal passed Tony Pulis’ side off the Emirates Stadium pitch.

No-one will be as disappointed as Cazorla, then, for a dip in form which has seen him become the man most at threat by Arsenal’s plethora of talent for the ’3? in the Gunners’ 4-2-3-1 formation. Until recently that is.

Until his role in the 2-0 FA Cup win over Tottenham, Cazorla’s form had been patchy to say the least. His goalscoring role against Liverpool and assists against Fulham early on in the season and at West Ham at the back end of the last calendar year.

Unable to replicate the sort of form he had shown the previous campaign, Cazorla began to bore the brunt of fans’ criticism, particularly after his part in Aston Villa’s consolation in the 2-1 win at Villa Park, with the Spaniard needlessly handing away possession in a dangerous area.

Santi Cazorla stats

It has hardly been the smooth ride of a second season that, presumably, both fans and Cazorla had anticipated after his duck-to-water-like taking to English football.

But the Tottenham strike merely served to allow Cazorla to knuckle down and kick-start his season. It couldn’t have been timed any better. Özil has shown signs that he is beginning to feel the effects of the rigorous nature of the Premier League and yet has still maintained his mantle as the club’s creative chieftain.

Adding Cazorla’s craft into the mix, albeit belatedly, Arsenal appear well set up to end a trophy drought which stretches back to 2005 with everything suddenly beginning to click.

But just how has Cazorla overcome his early season dip in form to get close to the level he was on last season in recent months?

Perhaps one reason, despite its relative simplicity, is Cazorla’s predominant position on the pitch.

To accommodate Özil’s arrival, Cazorla has been tasked with playing on the left flank, a role he admittedly occupied for much of last season’s push for fourth spot, but it is noticeable that his improved form has coincided when the 29-year-old has based himself centrally.

Cazorla has been at his most productive when operating behind Giroud and allowing Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal to overlap down the left-hand side.

The vivacious movement of the midfield troika is a fundamental element of Arsenal’s attacking play and it would appear a rigid structure, which Cazorla’s average action areas v Everton below suggests, prohibits the Gunners’ ability to open up defences.

The Toffees were comfortable at the Emirates and came away with a point after stifling their hosts for long periods. Cazorla’s primary position (15.79%) was just behind the striker, but only marginally so as the 12.28% of time in the left defensive and offensive sections highlight.

Likewise, Cazorla was not at his creative best in the recent 2-2 stalemate at Southampton – the only stricture on an otherwise exemplary run of form. Despite his expertly-taken goal, he completed just 78% of his passes from the left and managed to win just three out of his seven take ons.

Everton contained Cazorla to just 77% of completed passes while he created nothing in the way of goalscoring openings. It alludes to the notion of Cazorla finding his best form when his team-mates are also on song.

Arsenal have won six of their eight home matches this season by the same scoreline – 2-0 – and it is when the Gunners have looked most potent, having won eight of their 11 home matches.

He has also created more chances at home than he has on the road and seems at pains to move inside from his job of nullifying the right side of opponents from his left-wing station.

The only two anomalies in this context are his performances at Fulham and West Ham United – both relegation fodder – when he created six and five apiece.

Against Manchester United and Everton, he manufactured precisely no opportunities and was also conspicuous from his absence in playing provider at Crystal Palace, Cardiff City and Aston Villa.

In the home match against Southampton, which Arsenal won 2-0, Cazorla spent the majority of his time (24.62%) in a left-back role, such was the high pressing game carried out by the Saints and Cazorla was forced to accept a reduced role to assist Kieran Gibbs defensively.

Santi Cazorla stats

At Upton Park, Cazorla was liberated and it was no surprise to see him register an assist. The central position he so desperately craves was where he schemed and weaved through the Hammers’ midfield (30.83%) and his 85% passing was hardly surprising because of that, culminating in teeing up Theo Walcott for a crucial equaliser with 15 minutes left.

Santi Cazorla stats

With the defensive partnership of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny going from strength to strength, Wenger has been able to release the shackles on one of his star attractions and even in the narrow wins at Newcastle and Aston Villa, Cazorla was still comfortable enough to move inside with 30.69% at St James’s Park particularly interesting but perhaps also explaining why the home side’s Mathieu Debuchy won rave reviews for his performance.

Santi Cazorla stats

How Cazorla must wish he faced Fulham every week, however. The former Malaga man’s virtuoso display featured a brace, five chances created, a 100% take-on success rate and a passing accuracy of 93%.

It was a similar story against Crystal Palace, with an assist and 91% of his passes completed.

Cazorla’s season has taken a while to get truly underway but manager Arsene Wenger is finally beginning to reap the benefits of his midfield magician’s wander into an area where he can wreak damage on opposition defences.