Posted on Thursday, 26th July 2012 by Tony Merakli
Spain-based journalist Graham Hunter insists Arsenal are closing in on a deal to sign Malaga winger Santi Cazorla.
The 27-year-old has been linked with a move to The Emirates, with reports suggesting that the Gunners are preparing a £16 million move for the Spaniard.
And Hunter believes Arsene Wenger’s side are leading the chase for the former Villarreal man.
He recently told talkSPORT:
‘Arsenal have been in touch with Santi Cazorla’s representatives.
‘Cazorla is clear that he is in the prime of his life. He’s a double European Championship winner with Spain and Arsenal are currently, as we speak, pretty far down the line with both of them [the club and player].’
He added:
‘Malaga have debts, and I think the most important thing of all is the Spanish taxman. The Spanish government for the first time ever said we will pursue clubs who are in debt to us for tax, relentlessly, and therefore – for the moment – there’s a queue of clubs who want Santi Cazorla and Arsenal are definitely ahead of that queue.’
Sources suggest Cazorla would be keen on a move to Arsenal, but Wenger insists he is not close to signing the versatile forward.
After the club’s 2-1 pre-season victory over Malaysia XI, Wenger told reporters:
‘We are not close to signing Cazorla. We are still working that out.’
I wouldn’t mind if we signed Cazorla, but I don’t think he is really needed. We have a lot of options on the wing and I think Wenger should focus on trying to sign a creative, attacking midfielder. Yes, Cazorla can play in this position but, primarily, he is a wide-man.
Like what you read? Then follow me on Twitter – http://twitter.com/Gunnersphere
Visit and Join our Facebook page, click HERE to do so.
Gunnersphere is currently looking for new writers to join the squad. Contact via twitter or at Gunnersphere@snack-media.com for further details.
Looking for some cool, cheap T’s? Then click on the banner below!!!
Related posts:
Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Graham Hunter, Santi Cazorla
Posted in Tabloid Talk, View From The Sphere | Comments (34)
Arsenal News 24/7
Loading ...
July 26th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Henis someone we desperately need. A creative player who has technique in abundance. His versatility is also helpful. Would be an excellent, world class signing.
[Reply]
anto Reply:
July 26th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
henis sounds like penis
[Reply]
Rahul Reply:
July 27th, 2012 at 2:33 am
You’re a retard
[Reply]
Norway Reply:
July 27th, 2012 at 11:45 am
Haha! Was thinking the same thing =D
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
This guy is a creative attacking midfielder who can also play on the wings which is ideal for us. What creative midfielder out there is available at that price with that ability?
[Reply]
NC Reply:
July 26th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
Shinji Kagawa is much better than Cazorla,he was available and Arsenal was very much interested but ManU bought him for an initial fee of 12m which could rise to 17m.
[Reply]
adiiii83 Reply:
July 27th, 2012 at 2:00 am
Kagawa is nowhere near in the same league as Santi. I’ve seen both of them play, Santi is unlucky that he’s at Malaga, otherwise he’d be in front of David Silva in the Spanish team. If he comes to Arsenal, he’ll be in the top 3 players of the season. Very similar player to Iniesta, so he’s not really a true winger like people label him. He comes deep to pick up the ball and start attacks and his left foot is as good as his right, which is amazing. He could be the icing on the cake which helps us win the title this season.
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
‘primarily a wide man’ – no, he isnt. He is an attacking midfielder who can play all across the midfield line- homework please
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
he is exactly what we need. we have been lacking that creative spatk since cesc left and jack got injured. hope we get him.
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
he is good player we need him santiego cazorla conzales and fernando llorente goa ahead
[Reply]
NC Reply:
July 26th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
you foreign ‘fans’ dont have a clue about Arsenal do you, probably wouldnt be able to point to it on a map. looool #GTID! #COYG!
[Reply]
doctore Reply:
July 27th, 2012 at 9:28 am
Everyone has a right to their opinion,he’s as much a fan of the club as you are, just because you are English doesn’t make you a better/greater fan,wake up this is the 21st century and Arsenal is a global brand,not some local English pub team,get it???????
[Reply]
dude Reply:
July 27th, 2012 at 10:07 am
So he’s even against the players who are foreign ?
July 26th, 2012 at 4:21 pm
I have to say I think a goal scoring winger is exactly what is needed. Yes there are other tweaks to be made – I would get rid one some of the several central midfield players who are neither particularly defensive or creative, and just leave Song, Wilshire and Arteta then get a defensive midfielder, then use 2 from Cazorla, Walcott, Podolski, Gervinho, Miyachi and Chamberlain out wide to support Giroud or RVP (or Walcott)in the middle and maybe, just maybe, Arsenal will have a team capable of scoring like the team that had Henry in the middle with Ljundberg and Pires on the Wings. That would be nice!
[Reply]
Matt Reply:
July 26th, 2012 at 6:33 pm
couldnt agree more mate, I would think a top left-back, back-upgoalie, DM,CAM is vital to have a strong depth of squad
[Reply]
Terry Reply:
July 27th, 2012 at 9:39 am
thats like you want a whole new team.
i think we need to sell players quickly… arshavin, vela, chamakh, nikki b, squillachi all need to leave soon. then we can decide who to buy and who not to.
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 4:31 pm
I wonder why we didn’t do all this addition when Cesc was here. I wonder if he would have been persuaded to stay if all these players were bought while he was here.
[Reply]
Matt Reply:
July 26th, 2012 at 6:34 pm
His reason to leave was to join up with his friends at his home-town club … not to critisize Arsenals ambition and question their Transfer policies.
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
No money TrueGooner. Few more pennies in the coffers now and this will continue to grow season after season. We’re only just starting to come out of the poor old days of having to pay off new stadium. Future is very bright i think!!!!
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 5:05 pm
i think wenger might rotate his midfield quite a lot next season. walcott often goes missing in games so i would expect a revolving door down the right until someone settles down in the role. would also expect to see the Ox in a more central role too, probably switching roles with Carzola (if the transfer happens)Thats not to say he wont play on the wing either, like i said rotation will be the key in midfield next season. Would realy like to see wiltshere linking up with the Ox in the middle of the park….COYG!!!!!
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 5:18 pm
I personally agree with u wardy, ox is one versatile player, he has shown to all how he can be devastating in the middle of the park. Playing ox in attacking mid, wilshere box-box, carzola RW , song CDM, poldi LW AND giroud oe RVP(considering he stays) upfront would be feared by majority of teams
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
Not needed? Let me put it this way:
As a winger, Cazorla > Walcott+Gervinho+Ryo(for now)
As a playmaker, Cazorla ~ Cesc
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 5:28 pm
All the articles calling Carzola a wingman are wide off the mark. Carzola is the much needed versatile playmaker who could play as an attacking midfielder, winger, support striker or deep lying midfielder. Perhaps an improved version of Samir Nasri ..top signing if it does happen.
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
i agree wit u there.
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
He can play on the wing but he’s a more “free role” kind of player which is probably why he was Malagas’ top scorer last season. He’s could take Rosickys role and share his skills/experience with Walcott for the wing and Ramsey, Wilshere and Ox for the CAM role. Quality signing if we can get him. The depth of our squad would be filled with game changing players and we’d actually be able to rotate players too.
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Just in this time,we need people like Carzola to revive our frontline that had lads like Pires,Bergkamp and Thierry Henry
Welcome Carzola
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
I will be happy if we can sign cazorla.
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
Future Arsenal Star Arriving At End Of The January Transfer Window
I can exclusively announce the arrival of Dennis Moran (future Arsenal star). His due date is Feburay the first which rules him out for this season, and the next 15/20 seasons as (being a little tiny baby) he will be a need a time to develop into the world beater he is destined to be. Dennis will be named after the great Dennis Bergkamp who was himself named after the great Denis Law (Check the archives if unaware of Law). Maybe I should continue the trend and spell it Dennnis? With the initials ‘DM’ a natural position for the podigy will be Defensive Midfield, but prehaps a title ‘Deep lying playMaker will be more intune with his creative, dazzling playing style. Maybe ‘L’ & ‘P’ can be incorporated with middle names, Ljungberg Pirès comes to mind but there are still naming rights issues with his other parent club (mother) to be addressed and the 20% chance at this stage of a Denise, who’ll then have to join her two elder sisters in the Arsenal ladies team. So the future of Arsenal looks bright as always.
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Wenger Please Get This Man…!
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
Mr.wenger,pls u’re too slow,make hail while sun shining.if u will sign player for us let it be now or never.eversince d transfer market open,nothin has happen so far,so we need m’villa,Ganso,Cazorla with a RB and we must not allow RVP departure and don’t forget d signing of Niang and Milo.we fans ‘re waiting for d returning of our glory and its either now or never.
[Reply]
July 26th, 2012 at 6:47 pm
We just waiting for Arshavin to be sold before we can complete it
[Reply]
July 27th, 2012 at 3:18 am
He is exactly what Arsenal need but I wonder what other clubs are interested. Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Man City cannot accomodate him without selling players. United might be interested but they’re not short of good wingers and Kagawa was presumably bought as their playmaker. I would think Barcelona have enough talent in that area too. It’s all specualtion but Arsenal might have a chance. It’s a shame to have to check that other clubs don’t want him but that’s the reality of a club that hasn’t won a trophy for 8 years and doesn’t have a rich benfactor to pay the wage bill. Arsenal do have plenty of wingers but in my opinion they’re not good enough so Cazorla would be an excellent addition.
[Reply]
July 27th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
“I wouldn’t mind if we signed Cazorla, but I don’t think he is really needed.”
U are a feckin iidot, mate. Lot of options, meh. who?
[Reply]
July 27th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
wrong, he isn’t primarily a wide-man
[Reply]