Santi Cazorla leaves Arsenal following end of contract

Santi Cazorla has left Arsenal following the end of his contract, the club have announced.

As Standard Sport reported on Sunday, Arsenal have decided against a new deal for the Spaniard, who made 180 appearances and scored 29 for the Gunners in six years at the club, having joined from Malaga in 2012.

Cazorla has not played for the north London club since sustaining an Achilles injury in Ocotber 2016, having undergone ten surgeries and a skin graft.

Having returned to first team training in the latter stages of the season, there was hope Cazorla could appear in an Arsenal shirt once more, however, the 33-year-old is likely to return to Valencia after the Spanish club offered him the chance to spend pre-season with them.

“Santi is always one of my favourite players to watch,” Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said.

“His natural ability with both feet, his speed of thought and movement were central to our best performances in recent years. He plays with a joy and freedom which is very rare. We wish him well for the future and thank him for his important contribution to our club.”