Former Gunners midfielder Santi Cazorla misses being at Arsenal, and as he leaves Al-Sadd after three years, it’s time to look at comments he made about returning to the club in a backroom role.

Santi Cazorla left Arsenal back in 2018, and he’s since gone on to play for Villarreal and Al-Sadd in Qatar.

Now, after three years with the Qataris, 96 appearances, 38 goals and 36 assists, Cazorla finds himself without a club.

At the start of the year, the 38-year-old admitted he still misses north London, where he enjoyed the best period of his career – and the worst.

“I miss everything of this club every day – every day,” Cazorla said. “When I was there I enjoyed my best time in football, but also my worst because after the injury it was really difficult for me.

“But I love all of this club. I loved playing in Premier League and winning trophies. They were good memories with the players. I follow them, I support them; I’m always a Gunner.”

On the possibility of an Arsenal return, Cazorla says he’d happily snap up any opportunity.

He just doesn’t yet know whether he’ll get that chance, and what role he might play back at the club.

“We’ll see,” Cazorla responded. “If I have the possibility to come back, I will be back. I don’t know which position in the club, as a coach or sports director. But of course, I would like to come back in the future.”

This isn’t the first time that Cazorla has revealed his desire to return to Arsenal, with the former Gunners midfielder also saying something very similar back in November.

“Of course, I would like to come back,” he said then. “I have to wait if the club thinks about me, if I can help in something – as a coach or a sporting director.”

When the Spanish international eventually decides to hang up his boots, you’d imagine Arsenal would be keen to find a role for him at the club.

For now, however, it seems he could be on his way back to Villarreal for a fourth time as he eyes one final year playing.