After picking up his horrific ankle injury for Arsenal, Santi Cazorla never played again for the club before being shipped back to Villarreal.

After picking up what looked like an innocuous injury against Ludogorets in a Champions League game in added time, Santi suffered what can only be described as an injury nightmare.

Cazorla almost lost his foot and was told he may not even be able to walk, let alone play football again, before numerous operations on his ankle, skin grafts and an arduous recovery programme back in Spain.

Cazorla, who is now 31 is enjoying life back at his Spanish club but regrets not being able to say a proper goodbye to Arsenal and the fans.

He’s had a great season so far, scoring 12 goals and grabbing 6 assists in 26 games for Villarreal and has also managed to get his place back in the Spanish international side.

Santi told BBC Sport: 

“It was frustrating to not be able to say goodbye to a club who treated me so well. It is something left in my career to say goodbye properly. I am eternally grateful to the club and the fans for the way they continue to treat me…”

There is now talk of Arsenal trying to find a way to give Cazorla a proper send off, which could involve some kind of one-off match, or even a mini-tournament such as The Emirates Cup with a special invite for Villarreal.

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