Arteta sends emotional message to retiring former Gunner | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has sent a touching message to Santi Cazorla following the former Gunners’ decision to retire from professional football.

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Following Santi Cazorla’s decision to retire this week, Real Oviedo shared a message from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to the Arsenal fan-favourite midfielder.

“It’s been an honour, it’s been a gift to get to know you as a person, to have been your teammate,” Arteta said.

“To be there with you in everything that has happened in your career and what you have become, and particularly the legacy that you are going to leave in football and in all of the people that have been there next to you.

“I would love to be there with you today, next to you. I can’t forget your family, I can’t forget your wife Ursula and your children, and all the people you have around you.”

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“Thank you for what you have given to football,” Arteta continued. “Thank you for always putting on a smile, both on your face and those of the people there with you.

“A cycle is coming to an end for you. I can imagine how hard that is going to be for you, knowing you and the love and the passion that you have for this game. But I’m sure that you are going to give much more to football in any role and any decision that you may take.

“I love you lots. Here (at Arsenal), all of the teammates, all of the people at the club, the staff, and the fans pass you all our love, and I hope that you can feel it from here in London.”

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Cazorla admitted earlier this year that he’d made a decision about whether to retire this summer, but he stopped short of actually announcing what the decision was.

At the time, Oviedo were still fighting to try and avoid relegation from La Liga, so it would have been an unwelcome distraction.

Sadly, Oviedo ended up going down anyway, but at 41 years old, this was the time for Cazorla to call it quits. The midfielder had played a key role in Oviedo’s promotion back to the top flight in the first place, so he leaves with his head held high.

Arsenal fans will obviously remember Cazorla primarily for his time in north London, winning two FA Cup trophies after his free-kick set Arsene Wenger’s side on the path to success in the 2014 final.

Cazorla also won trophies with Villarreal, Al Sadd, and Spain, having been part of the Spain squad for the Euros in 2008 and 2012. And in 2025, he won the Segunda Division play-offs with Oviedo.

Photo via Arsenal on Twitter