Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla will miss the rest of the season after suffering another setback in his recover according to widespread reports today. The diminutive Spaniard has not featured for the Gunners since going off injured against Ludogorets in October.
Arsene Wenger previously said that he hoped Cazorla would be back by February, but the midfielder has not even begun training yet and there is no word on when he will even return to training, let alone the football pitch.
Arsenal fans were understandably upset at the latest setback and showed pretty much all the emotions possible to the news. Anger, disappointment, sympathy and fear were all in abundance as Twitter reacted to the news.
If you thought Santi Cazorla was coming back this season, you don’t know Arsenal.
— Logan (@premiumXS) February 23, 2017
Oh how this team misses Santi Cazorla. Massive loss. ? #AFC
— Theodora (@Ms_T_P) February 23, 2017
Santi Cazorla ??
— Gooner Daniella (@DaniellaaBliss) February 23, 2017
Cazorla to miss rest of season. I often think of him as arguably Arsenal’s most influential player. Big blow https://t.co/HKdpRj5DAG
— Ahmed (@oloyeahmed) February 23, 2017
Gutted for cazorla. One of our best players, should of replaced In Jan as no creativity in the centre
— Joe (@JoeWillettK1) February 23, 2017
Woke up to the news that Cazorla is out for the rest of the season. Instantly want to cry and go back to sleep ???
— ㅤ (@Rxvi_) February 23, 2017
Shame about Cazorla but was pretty obvious.
— Maryanne (@x_AFC_x) February 23, 2017
Ffffsss Cazorla out for rest of season ? Elneny out for 3 weeks. Ramsey shagging sheep somewhere. Crisis mode at Arsenal.
— Tangooo (@I_Gas247) February 23, 2017
Move Cazorla on now, or keep him as back up and attempt to sign a replacement in Isco or a similar player. Same every single season
— Stuart JacksÖn (@TheRunner87) February 23, 2017
Lol remember when Wenger told us Cazorla will be out for 2 weeks?
— francis. (@stayne_) February 23, 2017
Cazorla ruled out for rest of season with ankle problem ? we miss him massively. But I think we are going to need to buy in a replacement
— Daniel Biggin (@Danielbiggin) February 23, 2017
Many Arsenal fans were questioning the club’s decision to offer the Spaniard a one-year extension when he has struggled so much with injuries over the last couple of years.
Cazorla’s contract should just be terminated. Long term injury season after season. He should just go back to Malaga
— Oseni Temi (@osebos) February 23, 2017
Why did we offer Cazorla a new contract when he isn’t fit enough to fucking put a shoe on
— hamad⁴ (@FutbolXhaka) February 23, 2017
Any more over the hill players who are getting injury prone at AFC that we can offer contract extensions to? #Arteta #Rosicky #Per #Cazorla
— Mustaficated (@Mustaficated) February 23, 2017
And obviously Xhaka was bought before the season. Nothing wrong with relying on Cazorla before the season. Contract different issue.
— Johan Jönsson (@JohtbaG) February 22, 2017
Cazorla will be like a new signing more than any other ke because he even got a new contract
— Thabang (@walker8701) February 22, 2017
+ playing Cazorla midweek vs farmers/extending his contract + not understanding 2-1 is more manageable than 5-1+ starting Giroud. ??? https://t.co/pDDjLjnBwK
— GT (@talavera_g) February 22, 2017
Many also felt that the Spaniard could be replaced from within the squad, while some again questioned why Wilshere was allowed to leave on loan.
@Teesly18 but I think xhaka could fulfil his role, he’s just gotta learn there’s good points about him, even ox isn’t bad in cazorla role
— Daniel Biggin (@Danielbiggin) February 23, 2017
Get xhaka a mobile and nibble footed partner and send Cazorla back to Spain..
— tAckles♡¤ (@atogooner) February 22, 2017
Hopefully now Wenger has a rethink and ditch this Cazorla dependent system for a Xhaka dependent system
— XLIV (@CentraIRamsey) February 22, 2017
Cazorla out for the season. Probably should have kept Wilshere
— Priyank (@priyank_patel24) February 23, 2017
If Wenger does know that Cazorla couldn’t play more than 15 games in this season that’s no point to let Wilshere goes
— Toby (@CaptainCazorla) February 23, 2017
Wilshere goes on loan, Cazorla’s leg falls off, then Elneny/Coq/Ramsey take turns getting injured and Xhaka keeps getting suspended
— r. (@cfmaousdog) February 22, 2017
Despite the news being of no surprise, I’m genuinely gutted Santi is out until Aug. Makes the decision to loan Wilshere even more baffling.
— 1886 (@1886_blog) February 23, 2017
