Real Oviedo midfielder Santi Cazorla has revealed that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has asked him to join his coaching staff at the North London club.
The 39-year-old is hoping to help the Spanish second-division side secure promotion to La Liga ahead of the second-leg of the semi-final promotion play-offs after the first-leg with Eibar ended goalless, and he is not keen on hanging up the boots just yet.
However, Cazorla has one eye on life after retirement, and he has admitted that while he will not be joining Arteta at Arsenal right now, a move in the future cannot be completely ruled out.
“I was lucky enough to share the dressing room with Mikel Arteta and now he is the coach,” the former Gunners star told A Bola.
“We had conversations about the possibility of joining his coaching staff, but at the moment I’m not focused on anything other than contributing to this club, Oviedo, and continuing to enjoy football as a player.
“Then we’ll see what the future holds for me. Of course, Arsenal is a club that has always left the door open for me to return.”
Cazorla spent six seasons at Arsenal before leaving at the end of 2017-2018 after a gruesome injury in October 2016 ruled him out of action for the remainder of 2016-17 and the following season.
He won two FA Cups and two Community Shield trophies with Arteta during the four seasons they spent together, and Gunners supporters would be pleased to see the duo reunited at managerial level given the passion they both share for the club.
A return to Arsenal will excite the former Spain international midfielder, and the opportunity to join the coaching staff will most likely keep waiting for him until he is ready.
Cazorla could decide to retire should Oviedo secure promotion, and the Gunners could do with his services as part of their coaching crew as soon as possible ahead of another title challenge next season.
