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Report: Santi Cazorla to Atletico Madrid at season’s end

Arsenal v Aston Villa - Premier League

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 01: Santi Cazorla of Arsenal scores his team’s fourth goal from the penalty spot during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on February 1, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

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Other than Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla has been Arsenal’s most important player.

The tiny midfielder has been outstanding for Arsene Wenger, but now reports out of Spain are saying Cazorla could be returning to La Liga at the season’s end.

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Spanish radio station Cadena Cope is reporting that Atletico Madrid has been in talks with Arsenal and that the midfielder has already personally agreed to move to the club this summer.

Cazorla has been enjoying an excellent run of form, playing his best football since joining Arsenal from Spanish-side Malaga in 2012. With all of Arsenal’s injury woes, the 5-foot-6-inch playmaker has been a wizard in the midfield, controlling the tempo of matches and seemingly always calm on the ball.

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Before moving to the Premier League, Cazorla played over eight seasons in La Liga with Villarreal, Recreativo and Malaga. He has also earned 69 caps for the Spanish national team.

If these reports are true, Arsenal would be losing a key piece to the side and a player Arsene Wenger can rely on to play his style of fluent and attractive football. Arguably one of the best midfielders in the Premier League this season, a move could bring in a good amount of money for the Gunners to use for a replacement.