Arsenal have responded after Santi Cazorla claimed he should have returned to Spain earlier when the bone in his ankle became like ‘Plasticine’ his doctor ‘could put his finger in it’.

The Spaniard gave a length and emotional interview recently and while he said he did not blame anyone for how badly his recovery went he did say that the doctors in the UK have refused to take any responsibility for the problems adding that the bacterial infection was not properly treated.

Arsenal, however, have issued a statement in response. They state that the midfielder was sent to see ‘world-renowned specialists’. They also said they offered him a one-year contract as they believed he could return to fitness at the club.

“There have been people who maybe did not act the right way – maybe I would not have had to go through half these problems – but I am the one who decides who to work with, where, how,” Cazorla told the Guardian. “I could blame people but in the end it’s me. I should have come to Spain the first day.”

Arsenal’s statement said, “This was a complex medical situation. We worked with world-renowned specialists as part of his treatment to get him back playing for us.

“We also offered him another year’s contract in the belief he would get back to full fitness. Ultimately everyone at Arsenal is delighted to see Santi back in action and we wish him and his family well for the future.”

Cazorla has impressed this season for Villarreal, growing with every game and looking close to his old self which is marvelous to see. Of course, you’d be hard pushed to find an Arsenal fan anywhere who doesn’t wish he was doing it in the red and white of the club rather than back in Spain.