Santi Cazorla picked up an achilles tendon injury during the victory over Ludogorets on 19th of October that ended a 6-0 win at The Emirates. He revealed at the time in The IBTimes UK that his substitution in the match was only to protect him and he expected to be back in action in a couple of days.
However, the 31-year-old has been out of action since then, and he has missed crucial games against Tottenham, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, games we have struggled to cope without his creativity in the middle of the park despite Granit Xhaka deputising very well in his absence.
Here is what Cazorla said when he was interviewed by Cadena Cope on his return to full fitness with Spain:
“Well, I still don’t know the exact time, I am trying to return as soon as possible to be with the team again but I cannot say if it will be soon or if I still have a few weeks left. It is what I do not know but hopefully it will be as soon as possible. I wish (to return to the national team) but to get that I need to play for Arsenal. I have to recover from the injury. I need to enjoy [playing] again at Arsenal and then, if things go well, let’s see if I have the opportunity to return to the national team again…”
Last season, Cazorla spent majority of the season injured and is probably out of the PSG game next week, and definitely this weekends early kick off with Man United.
Also, The Spanish international has also rebuffed the rumours linking him with a move to join La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid despite his contract expiring at the end of the season:
“No, no. I have already said that there have always been many rumours but they have never been called me to express something serious. It’s more a matter of the press.”
Whether Santi remains with us, he expects sir Wenger to remain at Arsenal:
“No, the manager is very focused on Arsenal. He has been here most of his life and in the short term I do not think he plans to leave the Arsenal to coach the national team…”
