Santi – I want to go to the Camp Nou with a chance

Arsenal are close to having a fully fit squad after a torrid bout of injuries. The likes of Danny Welbeck, Francis Coquelin and Alexis Sanchez have been a welcome boost as the Gunners enter a logjam of crucial games.

There has been one player in particular whom have Arsenal missed greatly – Santi Cazorla. The diminutive midfielder has been missing since 29th March against Norwich after suffering a rupture to his external knee ligament, which was then operated on in December. His return, however, could be in the near future, the Spaniard confirmed, as reported by the International Business Times.

I am eager to return. It is a pain to be on the sidelines and not have the chance to help your team, especially when there is a game like the one against Barcelona that everyone wants to play in. Hopefully I can shorten [the recovery process].

Playing in the second leg against Barcelona] is the goal that I have. The knee is fine, I am working better every day. The aim is to set to return ([against Barcelona] but I’m not obsessed myself. I have to go day by day.

Cazorla’s ball retention in the centre of midfield has been a huge loss to Arsenal over the last few months, and it will be an even greater one on Tuesday evening against Barcelona. Although many believe the tie could be over after the first leg, Cazorla believes the north London side can face the task to at least having something to play for in the return leg at the Camp Nou.

I want to go to Barcelona with the possibility of winning the tie. I do not want what happened in recent years, when Bayern Munich and Monaco effectively knocked us out in the first leg. I want to go to the Camp Nou with intact chances to go through.

A team like Arsenal always wants to go further in the Champions League. In recent years we have been knocked out too early. It is obvious that we face the best team left in. They are the clear favourites to go through because Barcelona are the favourites whoever they face. The team is optimistic but we have to be realistic and know that we will face a great team.

Arsenal will more than likely surrender the majority of possession against Barcelona – as many teams do – but sooner or later they must fulfill their promise, and push on in Europe. A tough task but something they must believe they can do against Barcelona.