We have been incredibly fortunate to witness some of the greatest players represent Arsenal football club over the years. But perhaps for the younger generation, one name, in particular, comes to mind when thinking about those that got us off our seats during a match.
Santi Cazorla was simply a joy to watch. Despite standing at 5ft 6in, his technical ability and sensationally quick feet saw him take the Premier League by storm. Height wasn't on his side, but his quality meant that it didn't matter one single bit. If anything, it's what made him such a success.
He could beat players, control games, pick out extraordinary passes and score goals. He really was the complete package. It was the quality, leadership and personality that, in my opinion, made him one of the best players to have graced the Emirates turf so far.
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When he left in 2018, not only was I gutted, but I found myself wondering how on earth we would replace him. Santi was unique, it was almost rare to come across a player who offered the same if not similar. He seemed irreplaceable and it turned out that he pretty much was just that. You could say Lucas Torreira perhaps offered similarities, but again, the difference remained clear.
However, fast forward to today and the closest player to Cazorla yet could be emerging in front of our eyes. That's because Martin Odegaard is showcasing identical moments of class which you can't help but compare to the Spaniard. The energy, awareness, skill and leadership are all there to set up another exciting phase for Arsenal's midfield.
Although Odegaard has produced some fantastic performances over the course of the season, Sunday's display against Leeds was one which really highlighted the similarities between the pair. The ability to glide past players, trick them with a dummy and pick out passes that split defences wide open, were all on offer. A sudden change in pace and direction is another trait that makes both individuals alike.
The most exciting part is that Odegaard is still only 23-years-old and unlike Cazorla, who was 27 years of age when he joined the club, will have the opportunity to significantly improve moving forward. Granted, there are areas of his game which can improve such as scoring goals, but Arsenal have not had a player of this technical capacity in the central areas of midfield since the little magician.
It's hard to believe that he only cost £30m last summer after failing to make an impact at Real Madrid, but I've got a feeling that Carlo Ancelotti will have noticed his progress since and will now be kicking himself for letting him go so cheaply. It's a testament to not only the player's determination but also Mikel Arteta and Edu's trust that they put into him.
Odegaard's signing was questioned by many last year, but it has turned out to be one which has helped place Arsenal within touching distance of Champions League qualification.
