Arsenal Transfer News: Santi Cazorla's Arrival and His Potential Impact

Arsenal transfer news has been dominated in recent weeks by the imminent arrival of Santi Cazorla, and the Spaniard’s much-anticipated move to the Gunners was finally confirmed earlier this week.

Reported by BBC Sport:

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"Arsenal have signed Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla from Malaga on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee believed to be below £15m."

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He becomes the latest arrival in what has been a fairly busy summer transfer period for Arsenal, but could the signing of Santi Cazorla prove to be the most effective of all?

At 27 years of age, Cazorla could serve Arsenal for a number of years to come, but he may well have more of an immediate impact at the club.

This article takes a look at what Cazorla brings to the table and the potential effects of the winger’s arrival at the club.

Added Quality to the Squad

First and foremost, Santi Cazorla will bring a great deal of quality to the Arsenal team.

While the club can boast a plethora of talent in the wide positions, the likes of Gervinho and Theo Walcott do not possess the same technical abilities as Cazorla.

And though Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has displayed great potential, Cazorla is already at the peak of his footballing prowess.

This will enable him to have an instant effect at the club.

His long-range shooting abilities and passing prowess will provide an extra dimension to Arsenal’s attack the likes of which the club haven’t enjoyed since the departure of Cesc Fabregas in 2011.

A New Mentality Within the Squad

As well as great technical skills, Cazorla will bring a stronger mentality to Arsenal:

The Spanish mentality.

Cazorla was a part of the winning Spain squads of Euro 2008 and 2012, making him no stranger to success of the big stage—a quality that virtually no one in the Arsenal side currently possesses.

And it’s not just a familiarity with winning that contributes to this “Spanish mentality”; the tiki-taka ideals practiced by Spain are extremely transferable to Arsenal’s sophisticated passing game.

Such a mindset will make him a key figure within the Arsenal squad, and if his experience rubs off on some of the youngsters at the club, then the future could be very bright for the Gunners.

Potential Departures as a Result

Despite these benefits, Cazorla’s arrival may indeed signal the end of any future Arsenal transfer news this summer, as their total spending is really beginning to add up.

When combined with the costly arrivals of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, Cazorla’s signing brings the cumulative spending to an uncharacteristically high level for the club.

Barring last year’s late flurry of panic buys, such an outlay has not been seen during Arsene Wenger’s years.

With the costs of paying off the stadium loan to be considered, could the club be forced to sell up in order to balance the books?

The likes of Andrey Arshavin and Nicklas Bendtner could well make way, and it could make the possibility of Robin van Persie’s departure all the more likely.

Effect on Robin van Persie's Future

However, Cazorla’s arrival could of course have a rather different effect on Robin van Persie’s future.

The signing of such an established and talented star is not just a great addition to the squad—it is also a real signal of intent from the club.

It shows that Wenger remains ambitious in his plans for the Gunners, something that has been a cause of major concern for van Persie.

Will this ambition be enough to convince the captain to remain loyal to Arsenal?

It would certainly seem that this could influence van Persie’s decision, especially when considered alongside the earlier arrivals of Podolski and Giroud.

Transformation to Title Contenders?

With all these points taken into account, Cazorla’s move could really turn Arsenal into serious contenders to win some much-needed silverware this season.

Though the squad may be weakened in terms of Arshavin and Bendtner’s possible departures, it would appear that the team has been sufficiently improved upon, easing the blow of losing such players.

Of course, Cazorla is only one man, and to single-handedly expect him to guide the club to success would be rather unreasonable.

But his experience and skill, as well as his potential power to convince van Persie to stay, will certainly buoy Arsenal fans across the world as we head into the new season.

What impact do you think Santi Cazorla will have at Arsenal?

Please feel free to comment below with your ideas on the matter.