Arsenal Barely Beat 10-man Fulham – Where Has Cazorla Gone After so Much Early Season Praise?

Today Arsenal scraped out an ugly and painful victory over Fullham – a team that sits 11 in the EPL table and was reduced to 10 men in the 12^th minute.

As an Arsenal supporter, this season has been full of frustration and moments of extreme irritation. Today was no exception. 

The Gunners maintained the heavy majority of possession, however, like in too many matches this season, they failed to threaten the opposition due to a lack of creativity and quality, or possibly laziness or even fatigue. Fans and pundits alike have been debating the same causes all year long.

A team of Arsenal’s caliber should beat a full strength Fulham squad quite easily, let alone a Fulham squad playing a man down for most of the game.

My question, or criticism, is not why a club with the capital, size, vast resources, and exposure like Arsenal does not invest more on their on-field product – yet another query fans and pundits have been wondering while the answer is lodged somewhere in Arsene Wenger’s big, bird-like head. Instead, I am asking, what has happened to the mid-field mastery of Santi Cazorla that everyone was so quick to applaud at the beginning of the season?

In the first few weeks of the new Premier League campaign, Arsenal’s most expensive summer acquisition – Spaniard Santi Cazorla bought from Malaga for £16 million – astonished England’s top flight with his deft touch, his ability to use both feet with precision and imagination, and a vision for the game or a pass that few can conjure or see.

The early season praise came heavy and fast. Some predicted better fortunes for Arsenal than were originally anticipated. Others wrote articles that asked why more Spanish nationals are not imported. However, after a brilliant display in the first quarter of the season, Cazorla’s play has dwindled. Now, he impresses less and does not have the same impact that amazed so many just a few months ago. But why?

There are a few possible answers. They are speculation and educated guesses. The real answers can only come from the man himself. Since he isn’t here and I don’t have access to him, I’m going to talk about the speculation and educated guesses.

After playing so compellingly early on, many teams have started to man-mark or shadow him throughout the whole game. He no longer has the space or freedom to unleash his creativity. On the other hand, all the best players are marked heavily by the opposition, yet they still find ways to perform.

It could be that the lack of quality of Cazorla’s teammates offer him less options to be successful. Walcott can only run in a straight line, Giroud is not exactly known for his movement, and Gervinho can rarely run with the ball without falling over.

Podolski and Cazorla have combined to create some glimpses of magic, however with the German relegated to the bench, Cazorla is usually left watching Gervinho trip over the byline, Giroud flick it on to the opposing keeper, and Walcott running into the stands.

The most likely explanation, could be that Cazorla is simply fatigued. He has played in 44 games. Arsenal have played 49 games in all competitions. He is seldomly substituted, so he regularly plays the full 90 minutes, and he has come off the bench as a substitute in only a handful of games. Moreover, he has played in 3 pointless International friendlies where Spain has rested first-team regulars, in addition to 4 world cup qualifiers for the defending champs. That amount of playing time would make even the fittest player want to put on that ridiculous caterpillar jacket Wenger wears and take a rest.

I believe the Santi Cazorla’s recent lack of productivity is a result of being overused. The shortage of other creative midfielders Arsene Wenger is too cheap to buy, has left the Spanish international tired and out of ideas. He needs to rest.

At the moment, Arsenal have a long list of problems; Santi Cazorla not functioning to the full extent of his abilities is a big one.

It is very possible that come August, we will see the same Cazorla that wowed us not so long ago, a possibility that would strengthen Arsenal greatly, and not see them struggle so much against a 10-man squad meandering in the middle of the table.  This is of course, assuming Wenger doesn’t sell him to Manchester Untied…or Barcelona…or Manchester City…or really, anyone that gives the Frenchman a little sniff of green that makes him tickle so, and sends all Arsenal fans crying and rabbling.