Santi Cazorla could be the man to dismantle Hull

Santi Cazorla

Arsenal host Steve Bruce’s Hull City on Wednesday night with Hull coming off the back of a 3-1 home win over Liverpool. Beating this side will not be as easy for Arsene Wenger’s charges but a win is imperative if the Gunners wish to maintain their lead over the chasing pack.

One player key to Arsenal’s chances and someone who will be a threat to the Hull City Tigers defence is arguably Arsenal’s forgotten man, Santi Cazorla.

The Spain international arrived at the club last season to much fanfare, and impressed with some fine midfield displays which saw him earn a Squawka Performance Score of 2640 making him the best player in the Premier League in 2012/13. Cazorla scored 12 goals from midfield and made 11 assists.

However, this season the arrival of Germany international Mezut Ozil and the form of Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, plus a little spell on the side lines has seen the man whose name commentators love to over pronounce fall out of the limelight a bit.

Yet he remains just as dangerous and just as integral to the Arsenal side as he did last season. Although he has not quite reached the same heights as last season, yet, his form is improving and Arsenal’s recent opponents are finding it out the hard way.

The Heat Maps from his last two league matches for Arsenal really show how much of a threat Cazorla can be deployed in a variety of positions and roles.

Against Southampton at the Emirates, Cazorla was stuck to the left of the pitch, although he did switch and drift occasionally. From there he completed 79% of passes, one of those was key, while he also won three of eight take-ons.

The right wing-back in Hull City’s last defeat, the 1-0 loss at home to Crystal Palace, was El Mohammedy. His Performance Score was a pretty poor -11. If he plays in the same way he could be in for a torrid time.

He was even more dangerous in the 3-0 away over Cardiff at the weekend. His Heat Maps shows that he was all over the final third of the pitch and he also completed 83% of passes. He also took two shots and one his only attempted take-on.

Overall this season Cazorla has been in decent form. He has played nine times in the league, missing four through injury, and has made 13 key passes which averages out at over one per game. His pass completion is also high, as you would expect, with 84% finding a red shirt (or yellow if they are playing away).

Steve Bruce could be sucked in to being too preoccupied with the players making the headlines, the likes of Ozil, Wilshere and Ramsey. This would be to his, and his side’s detriment, as Cazorla is slowly approaching the same form he hit last season.

Hull City could be the opponent that finally everything clicks against and if it does he could well prove the difference between the two sides.