Santi’s New Goals

Arsenal’s win over Newcastle marked the 50th match of what was a very busy 2014 for Santi Cazorla. The first to reach half a century of games during the calendar year, an indication of the Spanish international’s importance to Arsène Wenger, the more obvious milestone enjoyed by Santi on what was a sparkling evening for the Gunners was the commemoration of his 30th birthday - which he celebrated in some style! A surge through the Newcastle defence and pinpoint finish from a tight angle gave Arsenal a crucial second goal against Alan Pardew’s team, followed by the most impudent ‘Panenka’ to wrap up the 4-1 win and with Santi given the freedom of the number 10 role recently, he’s produced vintage performances to finish the year. And despite now officially being a ‘thirty something’, he’s never felt better: "I feel good and don’t need to change anything," Santi explains. "Of course, as the years go by the body changes, but right now there’s no specific problem that’s going to force me to change the way I work on a day-to-day basis. I’m going to carry on as I am until something means I can’t do that anymore." As for playing more centrally, it’s the perfect present for the influential schemer. "I love playing centrally," he smiles, "it means I have a bit more freedom. I’m more able to help my team-mates. At the end of the day, I’m happy to help my team-mates and manager wherever - I’m happy whether I play centrally or on the wing. "I really wanted to score again," he says of his Newcastle brace. "I’ve had a lot of chances this year but for one reason or another - either bad luck or because I’ve missed by inches - I’ve not scored many. I want to help the team by scoring more goals so hopefully the penalty against Stoke and the two against Newcastle can help me to do that." With more performances like Santi has produced of late, surely more goals will be on the menu as the diminutive schemer enjoys another feast of football in 2015.