Santi Cazorla: This is what I think of my new Arsenal team-mate Shkodran Mustafi

SANTI CAZORLA believes Shkodran Mustafi has been a great addition to Arsenal’s defence this season.

German World Cup winner Mustafi moved to the Emirates from Valencia for £35million during the summer. 

The 24-year-old has since impressed alongside Laurent Koscielny in the heart of the Gunners defence. 

And Cazorla feels Mustafi has made Arsenal much more secure at the back.

"Mustafi has brought a lot to the team," Cazorla told IBTimes. 

“Even though he is still very young he already has big experience and has formed a good partnerships with Koscielny. 

“They already understand each other very well. 

“That solidness in defence gives the rest of the team an assurance to play with more freedom.”

Premier League: Leicester City, Arsenal play out dull draw; still without a win in new season

Leicester: Premier League champions Leicester City and last season's runners-up Arsenal remain without a win this season after a slow-burning 0-0 draw at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Beaten 2-1 at promoted Hull City last weekend, Leicester avoided the ignominy of becoming the first English champions to lose their first two games since Aston Villa in 1981.

But Claudio Ranieri's side were frustrated by two unsuccessful penalty shouts -- one in each half -- and also lost full debutant Nampalys Mendy to an apparent ankle injury.

Arsenal looked far more robust than the team beaten 4-3 by Liverpool a week ago and were able to welcome back Laurent Koscielny, Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud from their post-Euro 2016 breaks.

But with the season only two games old, both Arsene Wenger's men and Leicester are already five points off the pace set by Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Hull.

Ranieri had given starts to Demarai Gray and new signings Luis Hernandez and Ahmed Musa at Hull, but he reverted to last season's formula for the visit of Arsenal, three months on from his side's title coronation.

Robert Huth returned from suspension in place of Hernandez, along with Marc Albrighton and Shinji Okazaki, and Mendy stepped into the midfield hole created by N'Golo Kante's move to Chelsea.

With Arsenal dominating possession on a blustery East Midlands afternoon, it also allowed Leicester to adopt the counter-attacking formula that saw them storm the table in the first half of last season.

Arsenal were reduced to potshots, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, in for the injured Alex Iwobi, curling wide and Santi Cazorla, who replaced the hamstrung Aaron Ramsey, shooting straight at Kasper Schmeichel.

The first moment of contention in the Arsenal box occurred late in the half, after Petr Cech had saved at the feet of Jamie Vardy.

Musa penalty appeal

Danny Drinkwater, following up, tumbled over Koscielny's outstretched leg, but referee Mark Clattenburg played on and despite the home fans' boos, television replays vindicated his call.

Leicester suffered a setback early in the second half when Mendy had to go off after seeming to injure his right ankle, with Andy King taking his place.

But the hosts began to show greater enterprise in attack, Riyad Mahrez drawing an untidy foul from Francis Coquelin and then whipping a shot narrowly over the bar from the free-kick that followed.

With the game becoming scrappy, Ranieri introduced Leonardo Ulloa to the mix and with 20 minutes to play Vardy spurned a gilt-edged chance to break the deadlock.

Albrighton caught Granit Xhaka dawdling and sent the ball skidding into Vardy's path, but with Koscielny sliding in to close him down, the England man skewed his shot wide.

Wenger sent on Jack Wilshere, Ozil and Giroud from the bench and the visitors began to make inroads.

Theo Walcott threatened twice, forcing a save from Schmeichel and a fine, stretching block from Wes Morgan, while Alexis Sanchez teed up Ozil for an effort that drew Schmeichel racing from his line to block.

But Leicester saw a strong penalty appeal turned away late on when Hector Bellerin appeared to trip substitute Musa in a tangle of legs just inside the box, only for Clattenburg to shake his head once more.

There was time for one last scare in the Arsenal box as Mahrez left Koscielny on the deck before taking aim, but Cech parried to extend his side's unbeaten run against Leicester to 22 games.

Arsenal FC 2016-17 projected lineups

The English Premier League begins in a little over a month, and many ardent fans are counting down the days until the start. With teams splashing cash and star-studded managers imposing their presence in the league, fans eagerly await what the season has in store. Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea headline the transfer rumor section of news outlets with their numerous summer acquisitions. But let’s look at a team with the infamous minimal or last-minute activity in the summer transfer window: Arsenal FC.  Let’s analyze several options of what their optimal starting lineup could look like during the course of the 2016-2017 season. 

A three-man midfield

Under manager Arsene Wenger, Arsenal usually employed a 4-2-3-1 formation, where the “2” were midfielders that served as protection for the defenders. At the beginning of last season, Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin occupied those positions. But with the outstanding performances of Aaron Ramsey for Wales in Euro 2016 and the purchase of the combative Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka, Wenger must reassess the midfield.

A Cazorla-Xhaka-Ramsey midfield could reap the best results. Xhaka’s tough tackling and adept passing skills can liberate the attack-minded Aaron Ramsey and allow him to play a freelance role in the midfield, much like the one he played for Wales. Cazorla will serve as Arsenal’s metronome, dictating the pace of the team’s attack and exhibiting the wisdom to sit back and defend. 

Play with two strikers instead of one

Olivier Giroud has encountered an incessant amount of criticism for his inconsistent goal scoring for Arsenal over the course of a given season. It cannot, however, solely be blamed on his efforts but rather the formation, as Giroud often found himself on an island in the 4-2-3-1. With a second striker alongside him, particularly one who has been blessed with speed, the Frenchman can flourish. 

While playing for the France national team in Euro 2016, Giroud has exhibited a great striking partnership with the petit and fleet-footed Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid, as the duo has combined for nine goals.

A similar system can be utilized at Arsenal. 

Pair Giroud with Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott or Danny Welbeck, all players who have the speed to compliment the Frenchman’s physical prowess and aerial ability. It could potentially increase the Gunners goal output for next season. 

Arsenal has a tough season coming up as they battle with six serious English Premier League title contenders. But with the changes made to the squad formation and maximizing the potential of key players in the squad, Arsenal could lift the coveted trophy. 

The Premier League influence on Spain

Ever since Rafa Benitez took over as Liverpool manager in 2004 and brought the likes of Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia with him, there has been a steady stream of Spanish players plying their trade in the Premier League. Whilst Barcelona and Real Madrid caught most attention as Spain enjoyed their golden period that saw them win the 2008 and 2012 Euros, along with the 2010 World Cup, the Premier League also contributed towards those squads.

Whilst many of the established names amongst Spain’s glory period are still involved today – the likes of former Premier League stars Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina are no longer involved – the Premier League retains an influence in the Spanish international set up. For varying reasons there have been some notable exclusions from this squad. Santi Cazorla and Juan Mata were a part of the successful Spanish squads, but after a long term injury it is perhaps no surprise that Cazorla is not involved. Mata, on the other hand, is fit but has struggled to reproduce the form he showed in his first two seasons at Chelsea and for both players this probably signals the end of their international careers.  Diego Costa is another high profile name to miss out, uncertainties over his fitness levels have cost the Chelsea striker his chance this summer.

A few of Costa’s team-mates will be involved though. Defender Cesar Azpilicueta has had a season well below his normally high standards, but is still a key member of the squad and his ability to play either left-back or right-back makes him particularly valuable. Another Stamford Bridge player to have had a below par season is Cesc Fabregas. The enigmatic midfielder was massively influential in his first season at Chelsea, but has struggled to consistently reproduce that form. His talent is without question though and never has been throughout his career. It’s likely that he will be a substitute and be able to offer his quality and ability to change a game late on by opening a team up with his incisive passing. It’s a similar situation with Pedro, who has had a tough period of transition since coming to the Premier League. He is however, another player of unquestionable talent and certainly played his part in the all-conquering Barcelona side under Pep Guardiola. With his pace, technique, movement and composed finishing he gives Vincente Del Bosque another excellent option from the bench to change a game.

Staying in London, Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin has had a good season and although he still has some way to go, his pace and attacking threat will always make him an asset. His defending has also improved, but needs to improve further for International football. The injury to Carvajal has given Bellerin the chance to gain the experience of being part of an international squad at a major tournament and if Spain win both their opening games he may be involved in their final group match. It’s early days in his career and he should benefit from the experience.

David Silva’s season at Manchester City is another that has been hindered by injuries and he only showed his quality in flashes, but he remains a prominent component in the national team. His fitness issues will mean he’s unlikely to start their opening group game, but that exceptional technique, vision and awareness will surely be called upon.

The final Premier League member of Spain’s squad is Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, who has made incredible progress over the past 3 years to become arguably the best in the league and certainly amongst the world’s elite in his position. Incredibly though, Del Bosque is reportedly undecided about who will be Spain’s starting keeper for this tournament, with veteran Iker Casillas the other option. The once great Casillas is in the autumn of his career and sadly, as was seen at the 2014 World Cup, is not the player he once was. If De Gea does get the nod, he has shown Premier League fans just how influential he can be, pulling off a multitude of saves to keep a flailing Manchester United side competitive in recent seasons. With defenders as impulsive as Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique, Spain could well need a top class goalkeeper capable of pulling them out of the mire and De Gea certainly fits that bill.

So, although it may be more peripheral in this tournament, the Premier League influence on Spain at Euro 2016 could still be a vital one.

Arsenal: Who’s Right About Jamie Vardy; Paul Merson Or Ian Wright?

Paul Merson and Ian Wright have had their say on the ongoing debate among Arsenal circles: Does Jamie Vardy fit Arsene Wenger’s style of play? The two disagree, which leads me to the question: Which of the Arsenal legends is right about the Leicester forward?

It is an unusual situation to be in as an Arsenal fan. Being able to speculate about the possibility of a major signing joining the club, dream about how they may fit into the system, the successes and failures of a possible transfer.

This is what Arsenal fans, pundits and ex-players are all doing with the potential signing of Jamie Vardy, and there are some differing opinions on the Leicester City striker.

In particular, ex-Arsenal players Paul Merson and Ian Wright have both had their say on how Vardy will fit into Arsenal’s side, and their positions on the matter are polar opposite. Speaking to Sky Sports, Paul Merson criticized the potential move, stating that he didn’t see how Vardy’s game complimented the philosophy of Wenger:

“It doesn’t fit with me. Arsenal don’t get the ball forward quickly enough. I don’t get the transfer, I really don’t get it. No disrespect to Vardy but his strengths are getting the ball over the top. Teams come onto Leicester and they hit them on the counter. The vast majority of Vardy’s goals came from one-on-one with goalkeepers. Teams kick-off against Arsenal and immediately put 10 behind the ball and they’ve got to try and break them down.”

Merson certainly makes a valid point. Vardy plays to a very specific style, one that Arsenal do not employ. The counter attacking style that Leicester employed early in the season and saw Vardy flourish. However, as the year progressed, opposing teams began to sit deeper and Vardy’s goal scoring exploits did not match his form earlier in the year.

Ian Wright, on the other hand, is adamant that Vardy would succeed at the Emirates. While the aforementioned style clashes are cause for concern, Wright states:

“But if you’re a clever player – and Vardy is – then you have the ability to change your game. The idea you only have one way of playing is as insulting as it’s wrong. And so what if signing Vardy means teams suddenly start dropping deep to stop him getting in behind? If that happens, all it does is leave more space for the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and all those create sorts. I’m delighted to see Arsene going for an English striker who is a proven Premier League goalscorer. And, equally important, someone who is a winner.”

So, we here have two very differing opinions about whether Vardy fits into this Arsenal side. So who’s right?

Well, if you’ve followed any previous posts of mine, you will notice a trend; I am a huge fan of this signing. While there are valid concerns about a clash of styles, there is one thing that Vardy can do irrespective of how the team sets up, and that is score goals.

Vardy is a world class, proven Premier League goalscorer. He does not only possess great pace, is an excellent runner of the channels and a nuisance to any center half, but he is absolutely lethal in front of goal. Vardy can score a wide range of goals, he is an outstanding finisher, unlike current starting forward for Arsenal, Olivier Giroud.

This is why this would be such a good signing. Style concerns are fair, but they ultimately do not stack up to Vardy’s ability to ripple the net. He is the very best in the business, and he could well fire Arsenal to the Premier League title… if he joins.

Arsenal Transfer News: Prem club open to offers for star, Cazorla exit, £20m defender move

Arsenal have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Watford striker Odion Ighalo, according to reports. 

The 26-year-old has been attracting interest from the Gunners as they look to bolster their attacking ranks for next season, with West Ham and Manchester United also keen on the Nigerian. 

And The Sun claim Watford will now listen to offers from clubs for Ighalo. 

Watford sports consultant Nicola Salerno gave the green light on his potential departure when he said: "Everything will depend on what offers we get for Ighalo. He is an extraordinary player who could interest a lot of clubs.”

Meanwhile, Santi Cazorla could be set for the exit door at Arsenal, according to reports. 

The Spaniard has been one of the Gunners’ key players, but has endured an injury-hit season with a knee injury in November preventing him from playing since. 

And the Daily Star claim Villarreal are now monitoring the 31-year-old’s situation and could make a move for him in the summer - despite his injury woes. 

Cazorla spent three years at Villarreal earlier in his career and could be set for a return with his contract set to run out at the end of next season.

Finally, Arsenal are reportedly locked in a three-way battle to sign Bayern Munich Medhi Benatia. 

Benatia recently admitted he could leave Bayern, which has put the Gunners on alert. 

However, Italian website CalcioMercato claim Roma and Juventus are considering making bids for him in the summer after it emerged Benatia would be keen on a return to the Serie A. 

Benatia, who played for Udinese and Roma during a four-year stretch in Italy, is understood to command a fee of around £20million. 

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger could move for Benatia as he looks to restructure his defence after another failed Premier League title bid. 

Arsene Wenger: Injury update on Aaron Ramsey, Laurent Koscielny and Santi Cazorla

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he will wait until the very last minute before taking a decision on whether to start with Laurent Koscielny against Watford.

The Gunners host Quique Sanchez Flores' side on Sunday at the Emirates with Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista both expected to be fit.

Midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla will only be back from injury next month.

"From the Hull game we lost [Aaron] Ramsey. Gabriel [Paulista] and [Per] Mertesacker came off injured but should be available," Wenger said.

"[Laurent] Koscielny is not far. Will I risk him or not? There is a little medical risk but I have not made a decision yet."
- Arsene Wenger"[Laurent] Koscielny is not far. Will I risk him or not? There is a little medical risk but I have not made a decision yet.

"[Francis] Coquelin is coming back from suspension and Bellerin was not in the squad. He is now available.

"[If they trained?] Gabriel no, Mertesacker yes. I don't think they have lost too much fitness. We will see. I will make a decision tomorrow. My gut feeling is that Gabriel will join in tomorrow and be available.

"I don't believe that [Aaron Ramsey will be out for the season]. At the moment his clinical signs are quite positive. I would say four weeks.

"He [Laurent Koscielny] has to join in normal training tomorrow and then it is for me to [decide whether] take a gamble on a guy that has had one training session with the group or not.

"They [Petr Cech, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla] are all progressing nicely, but this week and next week they have no chance."

Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla says having his own song is the highlight of his career

Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has claimed that having his own song is the highlight of his career so far.

The Spain international, who is favourite among the Emirates faithful, has been out of action since the end of November but is expected to return on April 2.

‘Having my own song is the best moment in my career. I can only say thank you so much,’ Cazorla said in a question and answer session on Twitter.

Arsene Wenger will be hoping the 31-year-old gets back to full fitness on schedule as the Gunners battle Leicester, Tottenham and Manchester City for the Premier League title.

Gooners should be chanting Cazorla’s name again very shortly if reports are to believed.