Why Santi Cazorla Is the Perfect Man to Replace Mesut Ozil at Arsenal

Once upon a time, Santi Cazorla was an attacking midfielder.

When he was bought from a financially troubled Malaga side in 2012, he was immediately deployed in the most advanced midfield position possible. There he flourished for much of his debut season.

I still recall watching him on the opening day of the 2012-13 season against Sunderland. He was utterly mesmeric; the only player on the day who could break down the Black Cats' resilient defense. He twisted and turned, dipped and weaved, threaded through balls and nearly broke the 0-0 deadlock.

He maintained that level of play for at least the first half of his first season in England, but his form began to dip after teams started to adapt to him as the season wore on.

He was also played on the left wing with progressively more frequency as the campaign wore on. Cazorla became the Gunners' starter in that spot after Aaron Ramsey's resurgence forced Arsene Wenger to play him in the Spaniard's old role.

Cazorla has almost never returned to the middle since Mesut Ozil's purchase last summer. Wenger seems to prefer Cazorla's fleet feet and two-footedness on the left, rather than in his natural central attacking midfield position.

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The manager is in no way to blame, though. The Spaniard is much better on the wing than Ozil, and has done very well there on occasion. More importantly, Arsenal's almost embarrassing surfeit of midfielders gives the manager no choice. He would have to bench Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey (assuming both are fit).

The latter's astounding success last season forced Wenger to build the team around him and Ozil. This year, though, things are markedly different.

Both Ramsey and Ozil have been ineffectual by their lofty standards and both have suffered injuries. Ozil will be out for a few months yet.

That opens the door for several excellent players who happen to be on the fringes due to the Gunners' many midfield options.

Cazorla and Wilshere are Ramsey and Ozil's natural replacements. Getting back into the middle particularly suits the former.

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Though Cazorla can play on the left and can do most of a traditional winger's duties, he cannot seem to stay rooted in his position. He constantly drifts into the center, dually robbing Arsenal of width and clogging the midfield with an extra player.

He wants the freedom to roam but does not have it on the wing. The entire team suffers for it.

Now, though, he can drift around as he pleases and not leave a gaping hole in Arsenal's attack. His move back into the center also opens a slot for a true winger, which can be filled by either Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lukas Podolski or the returning Theo Walcott (Alexis Sanchez would be moved to the left).

Cazorla is also a naturally creative player. Yet he cannot do much chance-making when he is isolated on the wing, with little space in which to work and few players ahead of him at favorable angles.

When Ozil plays as Arsenal's No. 10, he is constantly spraying passes to the wings and putting the striker in a good position to create a chance for himself. Cazorla does the same, but with more energy and pugnacity.

Whereas Ozil waits for the right opportunity to present itself to him, Cazorla is so active that he makes the opportunity himself.

Arsenal could benefit from such proactivity. The entire attack has felt lethargic and staid this season, flourishing only when live wires like Oxlade-Chamberlain or Alexis inject some verve into things.

Cazorla is thus Ozil's ideal replacement: capable of doing what the German does at just about as high a level but with a bit more dynamism.

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