Santi Cazorla is hoping to be back in the Arsenal side in time to play a part in next month’s Champions League second leg with Barcelona.
The 31-year-old has not played for Arsenal since late November, when Arsene Wenger revealed that the deep-lying playmaker had finished a 1-1 draw with Norwich “on one leg”.
A knee injury has kept Cazorla out of action since, with Wenger struggling to find a suitable replacement for the dynamism and creativity the Spaniard added to the side in deep-lying positions.
His manager confirmed earlier this month that he hoped to have both Cazorla and Jack Wilshere back in time for the key games in the club’s title run-in and the former is now hopeful he will be ready for action in no more than three weeks.
“I want to come back, it is hard to be outside and not be able to help,” he told El Primer Toque. “Even more in a game as important as this against Barca.
“My objective is to be back for the second leg. The knee is improving all the time, and I hope to make it.”
For Cazorla’s fitness to be worth risking at the Camp Nou on 16 March Arsenal need to ensure that they remain competitive in the tie after tonight’s first leg.
Arsenal Barcelona combined XI
In recent years Arsenal have left themselves with unassailable tasks in the second leg, meekly surrendering advantages to Monaco and Bayern Munich at home before bravely falling short in the second leg.
It is a habit that Cazorla hopes his team-mates can kick against the holders tonight.
“What I would like is for the team to go to Barcelona still with a chance to progress in the tie,” he said. “The last years with Bayern and Monaco we were very much up against it. Hopefully this year we will not need to be turning it around.
“We are playing against the best team, a team close to perfection, they are clear favourites. Not because they are playing Arsenal, but because whoever they play, Barca are clear favourites.
“Many things must come together for us to beat them -- we must have a great day and they must make mistakes. The team is optimistic as we have been playing well, but we must be realistic and know we are taking on a great team.”
