Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil are Arsenal’s big guns (I’d also probably add Petr Cech as well), there is no denying that. The dynamic offensive duo are major talents and have been brilliant during the current campaign.  Alexis has netted 10 total goals on the season, despite missing a chunk of games due to a knee injury and Özil is within shouting distance of breaking former Gunner Thierry Henry’s Premier League season assist record.  If the aforementioned trio makeup the top tier of Arsenal players, the second tier (in terms of importance to the club) would include players such as Laurent Koscielny, Olivier Giroud, Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla.

Cazorla’s importance to the Arsenal team may have been overlooked prior to his injury back in November.  After all, the Spain international has not exactly lit up the scoreboard in recent years.  Cazorla netted eight total goals during the 2014/15 campaign and zero this season in 20 total matches.  This, however, is surely aided in large part due to the fact that Cazorla has been deployed in a deeper role over the last calendar year or so.

While Cazorla doesn’t score as many goals as he used to, he is still a vital piece to the Arsenal puzzle.  The Gunner offense runs through the 31-year-old midfielder when he is in the side.  At times when the Arsenal goalkeeper or the back four intercept the ball from opposing players, all eyes focus on Cazorla.  Having a player of his capability starting a counter attack is lethal.  From the deeper central midfield position, the Spaniard utilizes his close control, which is among the best in the Premier League, and impeccable vision to pick out an advancing teammate (as seen here.

The Gunners have used central midfielder Aaron Ramsey in the Cazorla role since the end of November.  Ramsey is certainly no slouch in the middle of the pitch; however, statistics show that the club have been more prolific with Cazorla in the side. In the 14 Premier League matches this season in which Cazorla has featured in, the Gunners have scored 24 total goals.  Compare this to just 15 Gunner goals in the 11 league games in which Ramsey has been the deep-lying playmaker.

Cazorla’s passing game is what mostly separates himself from Ramsey.  The injured star racks up more total passes, chances created, and key passes per match, as well as boasting a higher pass completion percentage than his Wales international teammate.

Cazorla Ramsey
Chances Created* 2.69 1.50
Key Passes* 2.47 1.36
Total Passes* 84 67
Pass Completion % 90% 86%

*Per 90-minutes game.

Arsenal will have to most likely finish out February without Cazorla.  Speaking ahead of the club’s FA Cup clash against Burnley on January 30th, manager Arsene Wengerstatedthat Cazorla is still “a few weeks away [from returning].” The Gunners will be hoping that their Spanish star progresses well in the final stages of his recovery from the knee injury and can help guide the team back to the top of the table before season’s end.