'Dear Jesus, Santi Cazorla is magic' - Young gun Krystian Bielik labels Spaniard Arsenal's best player

Bielik (r) in training with Arsenal star Cazorla
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
James Benge1 June 2017

The chance to work with the “magic” Santi Cazorla convinced Krystian Bielik to join Arsenal, the Polish youngster has revealed.

Bielik and his international team-mates have had few opportunities to work with the Spain international over recent years but the Polish youngster is far from the only player to speak in such glowing terms of Cazorla.

Indeed the 32-year-old is a hugely popular figure among the Arsenal squad and has proven to be arguably the most important cog in Arsene Wenger’s side, with his absence through a string of Achilles injuries having severely hampered the Gunners last two title charges.

Arsenal are likely to be without Cazorla for much of next season after he underwent his eighth surgery since October on his troublesome ankle injury. His return cannot come soon enough for Bielik.

Asked in an interview with Polish journalist Tomasz Cwiakala why he had snubbed the Bundesliga to move to the Emirates in 2015 Bielik said: “Hamburg is not Arsenal, it’s not managed by Wenger and they don’t have Santi Cazorla playing in the middle.

“Whenever someone asks me who the best player at Arsenal is, I always say Santi. Dear Jesus, he’s magic.

“When you are on a team with Santi then you don’t lose, the ball is always moving. You can play anything with him. Like a toy.

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“And at the same time he’s a cool guy. He kept joking around with me. After training he would kick the ball at my shin and then tell me that I’m wooden.”

Bielik, one of the brightest stars in Arsenal’s youth setup, spent the second half of last season on loan at Championship side Birmingham.

It proved to be a baptism of fire for the 19-year-old, who didn’t win in any of the eight games he started and was dropped to the bench when Harry Redknapp replaced Gianfranco Zola after the Blues’ manager’s sacking.

Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

He did however earn rave reviews – Zola likening his quality to that of Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin – and Bielik now hopes to gain further first team football next season.

“In the back of my head I was hoping that Wenger will trust me. I have been fighting for that trust for three years.

“It’s tough, but I heard from the boss that he has never seen a centre-back as technically-gifted as me.

“I still lack experience. It is no secret that it would be nice to play a bit more in the Championship. I know that I have convinced the clubs here. I’ve also heard about the Bundesliga, but most importantly I want to play as many games as possible next season.

“If that happens, I’ll come back ready to compete for a place in the team.”

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