Cazorla mum about future if Arsenal fall short this term

SINGAPORE — Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla believes the club’s current side are arguably the strongest in years to challenge for the Premier League title, but declined to say he would remain at the Emirates if they missed out on the biggest prizes again.

With the addition of veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech in a £10 million move from Chelsea, many believe this is possibly Arsene Wenger’s most balanced squad in recent years.

Yet, at 30, Cazorla, a two-time European Championship winner with Spain, knows time is running out to win the biggest trophies in club football, including the Champions League.

The Spaniard, who has two years left on his contract, had been the subject of a possible transfer to 2014 Spanish league champions Atletico Madrid.

However, in a recent e-mail interview with TODAY courtesy of his sponsor PUMA, Cazorla was vague when asked if he would re-consider his future at the Emirates if the Gunners fail to land the major titles this season.

“This is a question we can talk about at the end of next season,” said the former Villarreal and Malaga playmaker. “I am looking forward to playing this season and don’t even think about other clubs or the future at this point as I like to live day by day.”

With question marks still lingering over German World Cup winner Mesut Ozil’s ability to keep his form consistent, Cazorla, who joined Arsenal from Malaga on a long-term deal in 2012, is expected to be relied upon by Wenger as the team’s creative fulcrum.

But if Cazorla does move on, he revealed following the likes of Andrea Pirlo and David Villa to the United States Major League Soccer, or former Spanish national colleague Xavi Hernandez to the Middle East does not interest him.

“I will always stay in Europe to play football and can’t see myself in the Middle East or the US,” he said.

Cazorla was not picked by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger last night, where they beat a Singapore Selection 4-0 to reach the final of the Barclays Asia Trophy at the National Stadium.

The Gunners will face Premier League rivals Everton in this Saturday’s final.

The squad are still short of full match fitness ahead of their opening 2015-16 Premier League match at home to West Ham on Aug 9. But Cazorla isn’t surprised if they go on to lift their first Premier League title since 2004.

He said: “(It is) not just because of Petr, who is a great addition to the team, but also because we have laid down the foundations for a successful season in the last two years.”