Cazorla: “I’m happy” but no contract offer yet

In his fifth season with Arsenal, few players have payed as well as Santi Cazorla for Arsenal so far this season. Many feared his fitness after suffering some serious knee and Achilles’ tendon injuries last winter but since day one has been influential on the field. Contributing two goals and two assists featuring in every league and Champions League game, Cazorla is playing some of his best soccer.

Not surprisingly, the Spaniard is in a good mood at the club.

“I am happy here. What a player wants is to play and to feel important. Fortunately, since I arrived at Arsenal, I've had the confidence of the coach [Arsene Wenger] and of my teammates. I've played a lot of minutes. In the end, that is what every player wants.

“...If I didn't play, then I would consider leaving but that is not the case. I have this season left under contract and we will see what the club decides regarding my future. I will also decide what is best for me."

Encouraging words but when asked about a new deal, the 31-year-old stated that he had not been offered one despite being on the final year of his current contract. Cazorla was quick to brush off any hint that this might be a slight suggesting that they were focused on the season at hand.

It has also long been common practice at Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal to offer veteran players shorter deals and with important extensions to both Mesut Özil and Alexis Sánchez required, it could just be a matter of business.

Still, Cazorla is showing on the pitch a big reason Arsenal shouldn’t ignore him. He has been very good with his passing and distribution while the team inexplicably decides to play a defensive midfielder as a decoy, causing Santi to play far deeper than he has in the past. However, his past two games where he spent most of the time playing with Granit Xhaka, his ability to link up with the Swiss DM and Özil utterly flourished.

With all the discussion on what Arsenal’s best XI is, Santi Cazorla has made a solid case for his inclusion and deserves a new deal, something very much in doubt as last season ended. It is hard to imagine Arsenal won’t agree.