Arsene Wenger has hailed Santi Cazorla for producing an “absolutely top” 2014/15 season.
The Spain midfielder made 53 appearances over the course of the campaign, and particularly excelled after moving into a deeper-lying central position at the turn of the year.
Those performances pleased the manager, who feels Cazorla’s ability to “make the others around him good” is his biggest asset.
"He makes the others around him good and that’s an outstanding quality for a midfielder"
“Santi Cazorla played over 50 games and from the start to the finish he was absolutely top,” the boss said. “But everybody has been great.
“Maybe with the quality and the consistency included from start to finish, it’s Cazorla [who has stood out the most].
“He had a few games where he was unplayable. I do not look too much at his individual brilliance.
“He makes the others around him good and that’s an outstanding quality for a midfielder.”
Wenger is happy with the way in which his new players adapted to English football and was also impressed by Francis Coquelin’s emergence.
“He [Coquelin] is the most unexpected player who has made it from January onwards,” Wenger said. “I don’t think I exaggerate if I say that he convinced everybody. He has played a huge part and contributed very well.
“We bought well. I believe Gabriel will be a revelation. I am convinced he will be a top player and we’ll see more of him next season.
“As well, I don’t like to forget players like Calum Chambers, who had a very good start to the season and who will come back to a very good level.
“We now have players back who were out for a year, like Theo Walcott and Serge Gnabry. We have a big squad.”
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