Wenger ‘surprised’ by Cazorla adaptation

Wednesday, January 30, 2013
10:12 AM

Arsenal manager admits it has been a “big surprise” how quickly his summer signings have adapted to English football – particularly Santi Cazorla.

Cazorla, Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski have all made their mark at the Emirates this season, featuring regularly in Wenger’s starting line-up.

While some foreign imports need time to adapt the physical intensity of the Premier League, Wenger believes his trio of additions have fitted in seamlessly.

“It’s a big surprise [how robust they have been],” he told Arsenal Player. “Especially Santi Cazorla.”

While Podolski and Giroud both started in Saturday’s FA Cup victory over Brighton, Cazorla was given a rest.

Wenger said: “He has played more than anybody else since the start of the season and he was the one I absolutely had to rest [against Brighton] because he had played almost all the games.

“I’m happy he got a little breather and I’m certain we’ll have to do that again at some time, but overall they are very robust and all three have adapted very well to the Premier League.”