Arsenal cult hero Santi Cazorla makes permanent switch to La Liga side Villarreal after successful trial
Midfielder saw the final few years of his Gunners career ruined by injury but popular Spanish star has proven his fitness enough to earn La Liga contract this season
SANTI CAZORLA has signed a contract with Villarreal after proving his is still fit enough to be a footballer.
Cazorla became a cult hero at Arsenal during his six years at the club in which time he established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
The Spanish international saw his final two years at the Emirates ruined by a serious ankle injury which at one stage looked to have ended his playing career.
But despite his injury problems the 33-year-old was always seen around the club with a smile on his face and was hugely popular with supporters and team-mates alike.
He left the Gunners when his contract expired at the end of last season having made a welcome return to the pitch in a post-match training session.
Cazorla was desperate to see if he could continue playing at the top level, and persuaded former club Villarreal to let him spend the pre-season with them on trial.
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Unai Emery vowed to build his team around the midfielder.
And now the playmaker has done enough to impress the La Liga club to earn a contract which will see him play a role in their campaign this season.
Key to the deal was proving to the coaching and medical staff that the Achilles injury that has dogged him for so long had healed enough for him to be able to withstands the demands of the professional game.
It was an injury so bad that former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger claimed it was the worst he had ever seen.
But the Spain international put in the hours of work in rehab needed to get himself back into condition ahead of Villarreal's pre-season training camp.
And that effort has been rewarded by a deal which will see him get the chance to play top level football in his home country again.
