Two midfielders who couldn’t force their way into Spain’s engine room at Euro 2012 will be the most influential pairing when the Gunners welcome the Blues to the Emirates Stadium at lunchtime...
It might have been said countless times before, but it is worth reinforcing the belief that the current Spanish national team has a quality and quantity of talented midfielders at their disposal like never seen before. Despite both players being in the prime phases of their careers, Arsenal duo Mikel Arteta (30) and Santi Cazorla (27) are two talents that had very little to do with their country’s World Cup success in 2010 and European Championship triumph last summer, but will be absolutely vital against Chelsea later today.
Cazorla at least made the squad at Euro 2012, although playing 16 minutes during the entire tournament is the very definition of a player on the ‘periphery’, while Arteta possesses not one international cap.
That these two are now arguably Arsenal’s most important duo, providing the glue that holds the Gunners’ new found defensive stability and recognized attacking verve together, is a startling insight into Spain’s midfield riches.
Aside from Thomas Vermaelen, who should recover from illness to start against Chelsea, the first two names on Arsene Wenger’s team-sheet are that of Arteta and Cazorla.
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