Gary Lineker is really surprised by what he’s just heard about former Arsenal star Santi Cazorla

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Santi Cazorla was a talking point in Gary Lineker, Micah Richards and Alan Shearer’s latest discussion.

Lineker is a huge admirer of Cazorla, who is still playing in the Spanish top flight with his boyhood club, Real Oviedo.

Last season, Oviedo earned promotion to La Liga, in what was a fairytale scenario for the former Arsenal midfielder, who has made seven appearances so far this season.

Cazorla is thought of so highly at Arsenal for his contribution to the club in the Premier League, but one thing about the 40-year-old’s career in England is a real surprise.

Gary Lineker surprised by Santi Cazorla’s Premier League career

Cazorla spent six years at Arsenal, where he won the FA Cup twice and racked up 60 goal contributions in the Premier League.

While his numbers were impressive, Lineker can’t get his head around how few Premier League appearances the Spaniard actually made.

On The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker, Richards, and Shearer quizzed themselves on which Spanish players have the most Premier League appearances in history.

When going through the list, Lineker realised that Cazorla was not even in the top 20.

“He’s not even in the top 20, Santi Cazorla,” Lineker said.

Shearer responded, “Cazorla, he’s not in the top 20,” in a surprised tone.

“Really?” Lineker asked, adding, “That was a surprise.”

Cazorla left Arsenal having made 129 Premier League appearances, playing in all competitions 180 times for the Gunners.

The number was far below the leader, David de Gea, who racked up 415 as Manchester United’s number one, but other Arsenal players did make the list.

Cesc Fabregas sits second with 350 appearances, playing for Arsenal and Chelsea, with Mikel Arteta also making the cut with 284. 

Nacho Monreal and Hector Bellerin sit above Cazorla in the list, two top full-backs of the later years of Arsene Wenger’s tenure.

Mikel Arteta would love Cazorla on his coaching team at Arsenal

Now 40, Cazorla is nearing the end of his playing career, leaving many wondering what’s next for the Arsenal cult hero.

Interestingly, Arteta has commented on Cazorla’s qualities as a coach, saying that there’s always room for someone of his personality.

“There is room for his unbelievable energy and knowledge on his coaching staff,” Arteta said.

It would be a full circle moment for Arsenal to have two members of the 2014 FA Cup winning squad among the coaching staff, with the future looking bright for Cazorla, whatever he opts to do.