Arsenal signed midfielder Santi Cazorla from Malaga for a fee of £10 million in the summer of 2012. He was very influential for the team and established himself as one of the best midfielders in the League.
But the Spaniard has been sidelined for 18 months due to an ongoing ankle problem which has required eight surgeries over the past few years. He contracted gangrene on the affected areas and there were fears he would never walk again or may even have to have his foot amputated.
But the 33 year old is back in light training now and is hoping that he can continue his football career. He also wants to appear for Arsenal before the end of the season
“I’ve been practically unable to train, and that is my main focus right now,” he said. “I want to gradually train, for them [Arsenal] to see me and see how I feel.
“There is still some way to go but I hope I can achieve it. I’m a little bit more optimistic. I’m starting to do things on the pitch.
“There is still a long way to go and I have to work very hard. Little by little, I hope I can come out of this.”
But Cazorla’s contract with the Gunners is set to expire at the end of the season and he is not sure whether he will stay at the club beyond the season.
“I finish my contract in June and I do not know anything about my future,” Cazorla told Cadena Ser.
“We will see what happens, but for the moment nobody has offered me anything at Arsenal,”
“The important thing is for me to return to play, and then we shall see where I play.”
Cazorla has scored 29 goals in 180 appearances since joining the Premier League giants.