Star who Arsene Wenger let leave for free was named as the best Arsenal player by three former Gunners midfielders

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Arsene Wenger managed several excellent players throughout his 22-year tenure as Arsenal boss.

The Frenchman won three league titles and seven FA Cups in his time in N5, overseeing a number of exceptional teams.

The likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires stand out as some of the most talented individuals Wenger had under his tutelage in North London.

However, one other man is cited by many players as being the best and most technically gifted to grace the pitch for Arsenal in the 2010s period of Wenger’s reign.

• READ MORE: Arsenal icon revealed Hale End gem was actually faster than Thierry Henry in the Invincibles squad

Three former Arsenal players claim Santi Cazorla was the best player at the club

Arsenal’s squad in the 2010s certainly never equalled the talent level of those that came in the previous decade, although the club was still blessed with some astounding footballers.

The likes of Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez all lit up the Emirates in this period, although none of them quite get the recognition that one beloved man got from his teammates.

Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alex Iwobi all believe that Santi Cazorla was the best player at the club whilst the Spaniard plied his trade in England.

Speaking in an interview for Soccer AM back in 2018, Wilshere replied, when asked who the best player at Arsenal was: “I’d say it’s Santi, well it is Santi. Santi is the best technically – left and right foot. Sometimes, even in games, he does a left foot corner then a right foot corner.

“I think he was born right-footed and he just learnt to use his left foot. Some of the goals he’s scored with his left-foot are unbelievable.

“He’s probably the best [technical player] I’ve ever seen at Arsenal. I didn’t play with Bergkamp, and the coaching staff always talk about how good he was, and watching him he was good, but with who I’ve played with, it’s Santi.”

Agreeing with Wilshere’s sentiments, Oxlade-Chamberlain also cited Cazorla when posed with the same question in 2016.

“Santi, the stuff he does,” Oxalde-Chamberlain said.

“First and foremost, his whole physicality defies everything everyone says you need to be a footballer. He’s not quick, he’s not big, he’s not strong.

“In the lunch queue, he’ll be lining up with the under-16s and he won’t look out of place, genuinely. Then you think, how is this guy so good?

“It’s his first touch, his left foot and right foot are identical. He takes corners with his left, ten minutes later he takes one with his right. Who does that? It’s unbelievable.”

Iwobi joined the Cazorla hype train in his Soccer AM interview in 2016, also referencing the midfielder’s two-footedness as a reason for his brilliance.

The Nigerian said: “Definitely Santi Cazorla [is the best player]. He uses left and right. The ability he has on the ball, it’s just crazy sometimes. He pulls out some crazy skills in training.

“You can see his technique in matches is just amazing.”

Santi Cazorla’s Arsenal statistics

Cazorla returned to the Emirates for the first time in December, watching on as Arsenal beat Ipswich 1-0 in a Premier League encounter.

The 40-year-old understandably received a euphoric reception from the home crowd that day, with the Gunners faithful eager to show their appreciation for a player who never really got to say goodbye.

Cazorla suffered a serious ankle injury in the 2016/17 season, which saw him miss the second half of that campaign and the entirety of the following year.

Leaving for free at the end of the 2017/18 campaign, he’s enjoyed a successful post-Arsenal career at Villarreal, Al Sadd and Oviedo.

The former Spain international made 180 appearances for the Gunners, registering 73 goal contributions and winning two FA Cups in the process.

Cazorla has been linked with a coaching role at Arsenal, and there’s no doubt that this would be a popular hire from Mikel Arteta amongst the club’s supporters.