‘Jack mixes English and Spanish skills'

By Lloyd Webb

Santi Cazorla says Jack Wilshere is “a spectacular player” because he combines English and Spanish styles of play.

The Arsenal midfielder missed the majority of the last campaign due to injury, but has since returned to make Roy Hodgson’s squad for Euro 2016.

Cazorla is a confirmed admirer of Wilshere, and says his all-action play is what makes the Premier League so attractive around the world.

“English players are very talented,” the Spaniard told Arsenal Player. “Arsenal itself has a lot of young talent, such as Jack Wilshere. He is a spectacular player and I just hope he recovers from his injuries because I think he can be a really important player for both Arsenal and the English national team.

“Jack mixes English and Spanish skills. He has a powerful acceleration, a low centre of gravity and he is left footed, which makes him a joy to watch.

"Spanish people love watching English football and know what English football is about. They like the box-to-box spirit of the game and that turnaround that every game may have.

“In Premier League football, counter attacks are a very common thing no matter the game´s result, while in La Liga the team who is up in the scoreline controls the game a lot more. But even English football philosophy is changing little by little.

“I think that in recent years English teams have made an effort to play a better football. I remember the first time I played at the Britannia Stadium my team-mates told me, ‘Welcome to England'. Playing there at the time was about long balls or throw-ins into your box so the centre backs could score a header. However, Stoke City is a different club now, with the likes of Bojan, Arnautovic and Shaqiri in the squad.

“I think that every club is getting to know that possession style [football] is the nicest to watch, as opposed to the kick-and-run style English football had before."