Arsenal had a number of rapid players in Arsene Wenger’s various squads over the years.
While the Frenchman generally leaned towards more technical players rather than those who boasted greater athleticism in his latter seasons at the Emirates, he still ensured he had the requisite pace to damage opposition teams.
The likes of Mesut Ozil, Tomas Rosicky, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey were all in the same squad at one point in Wenger’s reign, although Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were still on the extremities of the team, stretching the opponents’ back-line.
Walcott was known for his electric speed, with the English winger’s ability to run in behind a frightening proposition for defenders to play against in his heyday.
However, Cazorla was convinced that there was a quicker player in Arsenal’s squad at the time.
- READ MORE: Jens Lehmann claims Mikel Arteta must change one thing to succeed at Arsenal as trophy claim made
Santi Cazorla though Hector Bellerin was quicker than Theo Walcott at Arsenal
For all of Arsenal’s pretty passing patterns under Wenger, they still needed a runner who could break the game open and be the player to receive a cute pass from one of the team’s technicians.
Walcott was often that man, with one of the midfielders regularly feeding the former Southampton player in behind after he’d made a quick diagonal dart.
However, as the wide forward aged, Hector Bellerin became the overlapping speed freak in Arsenal’s team from right-back.
Bellerin was described as a ‘jet-heeled marauder’ back in 2019, with his ability to produce a rip-roaring run beyond his opposition full-back incredibly effective.
Speaking in an interview with Soccer AM in 2016, Cazorla claimed that Bellerin was, in fact, quicker than Walcott.
“We have many quick players like Bellerin, Theo Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“I think Bellerin [is the quickest]. He’s a little bit faster than me [laughs].”
Bellerin’s pace was certainly blistering, with his burst past three Bayern Munich players to cut back for Ozil in 2015 a standout moment that displayed this quality.
Unfortunately for the Spaniard, he lost some of that pace after his tragic ACL injury in the 2018/19 season and was never truly able to recover it.
Santi Cazorla named Arsenal’s slowest player
While Arsenal were blessed with some quick players, they were also arguably hindered by possessing some of the slower defenders you’ll see grace a Premier League pitch.
The likes of Shkodran Mustafi and Per Mertesacker struggled with acceleration, but Cazorla named a different player when asked who the slowest player at Arsenal was in 2016.
“Me,” he responded.
“Because, we did a test last season and I was the most slow guy in the team.”
A modest response from Cazorla, although the majestic playmaker didn’t require pace to be an elite midfielder.
His exceptional close control, quick feet and supreme technical ability meant he could manipulate his way out of all sorts of difficult situations.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
