I left Arsenal with Mikel Arteta and owe them a lot - now I'd play for free

Arsenal fan favourite Santi Cazorla has revealed just how much attention to detail his former teammate Mikel Arteta paid during their time at the club. The pair played 98 times together for the Gunners over five years in north London but have gone on contrasting journeys since leaving.

Cazorla, 39, is three years younger the current Arsenal head coach but isn't showing signs of slowing down. Already on his third club since leaving the Emirates Stadium in August 2018, the Spaniard has made 20 appearances this season for boyhood club Real Oviedo in the second division.

In the meantime, Arteta has spent three years with Manchester City as assistant manager before moving back to London to manage Arsenal. Having won the FA Cup twice together as players, Arteta has already lifted the trophy as a coach as well.

For Cazorla, it isn't surprising. «Injured, watching games together, he would get the remote and pause it,» the veteran playmaker told the Guardian of his experience alongside Arteta in his days as a pro. " ‘What are you doing?’ He would say: ‘Go back, go back’, rewind 30 seconds, and ask: ‘What do you see?’ ‘I see a paused screen! What do you want me to see?!’

«He would say: ‘Look at this guy here, how badly he’s positioned. If he goes here, and he goes there, this space opens.' Every game, pausing every 20 seconds. The match has finished and we’re still in the 20th minute. I’m thinking: ‘What’s with this guy?’

He’s pausing. ‘Can’t you see we’re doing this badly? Don’t you think the left-back should be deeper? That he should draw out his marker? Don’t you think we can create a space there?’ I said yes to everything: ‘Yes, you’re completely right, Mikel. Now, press play.’

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