Danny Welbeck lauds ex-Arsenal star Santi Cazorla as the best player he’s played with, pleasing fans by picking him over Cristiano Ronaldo.

• Former Arsenal striker, Danny Welbeck has hailed Santi Cazorla, not Cristiano Ronaldo, as the best player he’s ever played alongside.
• Welbeck praised Cazorla’s football intelligence, his ambidextrous abilities, and his skill for breaking lines with his passes.
• Despite a severe ankle injury that nearly ended his career, Cazorla continues to display his footballing prowess with Al-Sadd in Qatar.

In a recent revelation that left many fans smiling, former Manchester United and Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck has named Santi Cazorla, the ex-Arsenal maestro, as the best player he’s ever shared the pitch with.

What makes this statement surprising for some is that Welbeck has played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

Welbeck’s journey took him from the glory of Old Trafford to the fervour of Emirates Stadium. It was during his tenure with the Gunners that he had the chance to play alongside the Spanish midfield magician, Cazorla.

In a chat with Goal, Welbeck was quoted saying, “That’s a very difficult one because I played with a numerous amount of players. [Someone who was] Really, really gifted was Santi Cazorla. He was incredible.”

His praise for Cazorla didn’t end there as he lauded his football intelligence, his ability with both feet, and his knack for breaking lines with precise passes.

Cazorla, despite his small stature, was a giant on the pitch for Arsenal.

Alongside the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, Cazorla helped form a formidable attacking force that, on its day, was one of the most potent in Europe. Their collective brilliance, however, was a fleeting spectacle marred by injuries, form dips, and inconsistency.

Cazorla’s journey with Arsenal concluded in 2018 when he moved to Villarreal. Following a severe ankle injury that almost ended his career, the gritty Spaniard has bounced back and is now showcasing his skills with Al-Sadd in Qatar.

Welbeck’s choice of Cazorla over Ronaldo as the best player he’s played with has stirred up debates among football enthusiasts, many of whom who are happy to ignore the accusations that have plagued Ronaldo off the pitch.

However, it provides an insight into the impact Cazorla had at Arsenal, demonstrating his talent and influence on his teammates.

When asked about the best player he’s faced, Welbeck chose not to name Ronaldo again.

Instead, he picked Eden Hazard, the former Chelsea maestro, lauding his balance, agility, and movement as “pretty much unplayable”.

It’s apparent that, despite playing with and against some of the greatest footballers in the world, it was Santi Cazorla’s genius that left the most indelible mark on the English striker.

Welbeck has scored seven goals, with four assists in 33 games this season for Brighton, averaging around an hour per game (averaging a goal or assist every 177 minutes).