Santi Cazorla could return to Arsenal this summer and become a part of Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff.
The Spaniard is still playing professional football, enjoying the last stages of his career at his boyhood club and Segunda Division side Real Oviedo.
Still capable of producing exceptional moments, Cazorla scored a stunning free-kick for Oviedo in their play-off semi-final against Almeria, with the goal sending Los Azules into the final.
The 40-year-old is now preparing for the final game of his career on Saturday, as Oviedo take on CD Mirandes in the second leg of the play-off final, looking to overturn the one-goal deficit from the first leg.
Hanging up his boots after this match, Cazorla could make a romantic return to the Emirates, with Arteta reportedly eager to hire the veteran midfielder as a coach.
Santi Cazorla never got a proper goodbye at Arsenal
Cazorla enjoyed six incredible years at Arsenal between 2012 and 2018, making 180 appearances and scoring 29 goals throughout this period in N5.
Establishing himself as a fan favourite and as a popular figure in the dressing room, the majestic playmaker possessed magical feet and immaculate close control, as well as being incredibly two-footed.
However, he also endured a turbulent final 18 months at the Emirates, not featuring at all on the pitch due to injury.
Serious ankle issues kept him out for some time, as he underwent surgery eight times to try and fix the severe damage he’d sustained.
Making his final appearance in October 2016, he left the club 20 months later, meaning his Arsenal arc was never complete and he never quite got the farewell and send-off he deserved.
Arsenal can make Emirates Cup Santi Cazorla’s testimonial
Arsenal fans are desperate to see Cazorla return to the North London club and join Arteta’s coaching staff.
Assistant manager Carlos Cuesta has left to join Parma, meaning a vacancy in the Gunners boss’ set-up has emerged.
Thus, it makes sense for Cazorla to step into the role and return to the club he loved playing for, after he retires from playing this week.
However, the Gunners could go one step further and give the Arsenal faithful what they really want to see: Cazorla play at the Emirates one final time.
The annual Emirates Cup is set to take place in August, a week before the Premier League kicks off, and this is a golden opportunity to give Cazorla his Arsenal testimonial.
With the former Spain international still playing now, he’s physically fit enough to play at the very least a short cameo in a pre-season friendly, and would be able to assume his coaching role immediately after.
The opponent for the Emirates Cup has also yet to be confirmed, so Arsenal still have the chance to invite one of Cazorla’s former teams, be it Villarreal, Malaga or Oviedo.
Testimonials are rarer these days, with football players so well paid and less in need of a final big paycheck, so the potential match doesn’t even have to be an official retirement match and merely one in which Cazorla is given some minutes late on.
Perhaps something of a fanciful idea, but a truly romantic one that Arsenal fans would certainly get behind.
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