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Cazorla: Juan is convinced it's only a Mata of time before he wins back a Chelsea place... and Ozil's given Arsenal a big lift
|Juan Mata is convinced he will win back his place in the Chelsea first team soon according to his Spain team-mate Santi Cazorla.
In an interview with Sphera Sports the Arsenal midfielder said he was baffled by Jose Mourinho’s decision to freeze out the club’s top performer from last season but backed Mata to bounce back.
Cazorla said: 'As well as being a great player he is a great friend for everything that we have been through together and I know that he is going through a tough time.
Not worried: Santi Cazorla says Juan Mata is convinced he'll win back a Chelsea starting berth
Mates: The Spanish pair (left and centre) are close friends
'After two spectacular years at Chelsea, being their best player, playing at a tremendous level, and being one of the best players in the Premier League, football has changed for him from one year to the next.
'But he seems calm and convinced that he is going to change the situation and he has a lot of faith in himself. I think he will show that he is worth his place in the team at Chelsea, but it is difficult for him at the moment because going from being an important player to being on the bench is tough.'
Cazorla says his recovery from injury is going well and he will be back in Arsenal’s line-up for the Champions League meeting with Rafa Benitez’ Napoli. The former Villarreal and Malaga player cannot wait to line-up alongside young Guns Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey and new signing Mesut Ozil.
Keen observer: Mata has been reduced to watching from the stands under Jose Mourinho
Added lift: Mesut Ozil has given Arsenal a 'jump in quality' according to Cazorla
He said: 'The signing of Ozil has given us a big jump in quality. He gives you something different. He is a top player and a match winner. It is a pleasure to see him in training because you learn something new every day. Bit by bit he will adapt to what the team requires him.
'That can be the most difficult part but you can already see how comfortable he is and he is getting better every day.
'And Jack and Aaron are both spectacular players. They are young and have incredible futures. Aaron has started the season especially well, scoring goals and bringing so much to the team. Hopefully they will maintain that level and with Mikel [Arteta] and Flamini coming back the manager has options.'
Ozil’s incredible start at the Emirates has not surprised Cazorla who says the German international is responding to the responsibility he has at Arsenal that he did not have at Madrid.
Need to be loved: Cazorla believes Ozil is at his best when he feels important
He said: 'I think he needed to feel important. Perhaps that was what he was missing at Real Madrid. The more important he feels the better he plays and here at Arsenal he is going to be very important in all senses and that suits him perfectly.'
In the Sphera Sports interview published on Tuesday in Spain, Cazorla was also asked to pick out a star from the multicultural Premier League... and he singled out an Englishman.
He said: 'The player who has most caught my eye is Leighton Baines. He scores and creates so many goals. He is a player of enormous quality. I like him a lot.'
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