Arsenal Transfers: Why Santi Cazorla May Be Arsene Wenger's Greatest Signing

"

You better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why:

Santi Cazorla is coming to town!

"

You get the feeling there's been a real change in the wind in North London.

Only a month ago was the pessimism and ill feeling surrounding Arsenal Football Club, as rife and corrosive as it has been in recent memory.

The doom and gloom that hung in the air even led some to suggest that it was time Arsene Wenger left a club for which he has given so much.

This was after the Frenchman had performed a minor miracle in rescuing his team from mediocrity and into a league position few thought possible for much of the campaign.

And if it weren't for the shocking start that had only come about as a result of the transfer window turmoil of last summer, Arsenal may have even proved genuine contenders come April and May.

But last month, that familiar gloom returned once Robin van Persie put his future up for grabs, attempting to auction himself off to the highest bidder.

The positivity that should have come as a result of making two marquee signings in Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud was quickly overshadowed by the controversy.

So why now the sudden nervous excitement one can only compare to Christmas Eve?

In truth, in the past four weeks, very little of note has actually happened.

Speculation aside, the recently confirmed (via The Daily Mail) signing of Malaga's winger Santi Cazorla can be pointed at as being the only significant change at the club.

Robin van Persie's future is as up-in-the-air as it ever was, whilst rumours linking Wenger with a move for Real Madrid's Nuri Sahin are yet to materialise into anything tangible.

And underneath it all, there is still great debate surrounding the Dutchman.

Whilst many would be quick to forgive, were there to be a change of heart, there is still a significant percentage of Arsenal fans who would not be so hasty.

Fans who would not wish him to ever put on the sacred shirt again.

So is Santi Cazorla's arrival the only reason for the complete transformation in the attitude and perception of fans?

In short, yes.

It cannot be denied that there has not been such optimism for an upcoming season since 2004, and most of it comes as a result of his signing.

It should not be forgotten that van Persie's given reason for wanting to leave was the club's lack of ambition—reason that has now been thrown out the window in light of Wenger making Cazorla the most expensive player in the squad.

I would also argue that it has been the very nature of Arsenal's pursuit of the Spaniard that has recaptured the attention of the footballing world.

Barely a few weeks passed between the time that the club were first linked with Cazorla, and the completion of the deal.

Fans of other Premier League clubs could only hope for such quick resolution in their transfer dealings.

And now that Wenger has splashed out on world-class talent, van Persie's future is close to being irrelevant.

Arsenal is more than prepared in either eventuality, something they could not say two weeks before the start of last season.

But more importantly the fans are back on Wenger's side and united in their optimism for what lies ahead.

Because Santi Cazorla has come to town.