Former Arsenal star Santi Cazorla’s future is currently uncertain, but he may have signed off his playing career in the best way possible.
The 40-year-old Spaniard is nothing short of a hero at the Emirates Stadium, having impressed many of the supporters with his pure quality in every sense.
After such a bittersweet spell with the Gunners, which was curtailed through injury, Santi Cazorla has been travelling to take on new adventures.
In perhaps one of his last ones as a professional player, the playmaker has an emotional attachment, featuring for his boyhood club Real Oviedo.
- READ MORE: European giants now want Arsenal to buy their £150m star who was previously deemed ‘untouchable’
Santi Cazorla earns promotion with Real Oviedo back to La Liga
While many would’ve called time on their career at 40, Cazorla has made up for some lost time by continuing to play.
Featuring for his boyhood club Real Oviedo, the former Arsenal man joined with the aim of ending a 24-year wait to return to the Spanish top flight.
After narrowly missing out on automatic promotion, the side were forced to go through the lottery of the play-offs.
Cazorla helped Real Oviedo through the early play-off rounds, landing a shot in a two-legged final for a place in La Liga.
After a defeat in the first leg, he went on to help them secure a stunning comeback, winning the second game 3-1 after extra time, securing a 3-2 aggregate win.
It means that Real Oviedo have ended a 24-year wait to return to the top flight, all thanks to Cazorla and his teammates.
It was nothing short of a footballing fairytale for Cazorla, though his future is now up in the air.
It’s unclear whether the Spaniard will now continue with Oviedo in La Liga next season, or whether he will end his playing career on that high.
- READ MORE: What Liverpool insiders are now saying about Alexander Isak transfer as Arsenal fans grow concerned
Santi Cazorla handed potential retirement farewell before Arsenal return
In all, Oviedo’s return to La Liga ends the mission that Cazorla returned to the club to do, ending that long-standing wait.
Beyond that, it may well have handed him the perfect opportunity to call time on his playing career.
With that mission now completed, he could help another former club end their own long wait for success.
Arsenal have been linked with a return for Cazorla as a coach, following some changes to the coaching staff in recent weeks.
Carlos Cuesta has joined Parma as their head coach, giving the Gunners an opportunity to make some changes in the backroom.
With the door open for Cazorla to return, promotion with Oviedo could be the closing of one chapter and the opening of the next.
It’ll be 22 years since Arsenal last won the Premier League title come the end of the campaign next May, showing what is available for the former star if he does make the transition into coaching.
It remains to be seen what his decision will be, though.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
