Arsenal legend, 40, sends club to play-off final with stunning WEAKER-FOOT free kick

AN Arsenal legend rolled back the years as he fired his boyhood club one step closer to promotion to LaLiga.

Santi Cazorla scored the decisive goal in Real Oviedo’s play-off semi-final against Almeria.

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Santi Cazorla scored a free-kick with his weaker foot[/caption]

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The goal helped Real Oviedo close in on promotion to LaLiga[/caption]

Oviedo went into the second leg of the tie with a slim advantage thanks to Nacho Vidal’s brace in the 2-1 away victory.

However, back at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere, the hosts were pegged back as Gonzalo Melero netted from the spot in the first half.

Cazorla, 40, was presented with an opportunity to restore the aggregate lead in the 49th minute after Oviedo were awarded a free kick just outside the box.

The Spaniard lined up to take the set-piece and struck a sweet shot into the bottom corner with his WEAK FOOT.

The midfielder is predominantly right-footed but has trained himself to use his left just as well.

Fans were left in awe on social media as they reacted to Cazorla’s goal.

One posted: “With his ‘weaker’ foot as well.”

A second wrote: “Classic Santi, why do something with his right foot when he can do it just as easily with his left God, I miss watching this genius at Arsenal.”

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A third commented: “Could have hit it with his right foot equally as well as the left. What a player.”

A fourth said: “Left foot, right foot – it don’t matter.”

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Cazorla spent six years at Arsenal earlier in his career[/caption]

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He won the FA Cup twice while in North London[/caption]

Another added: “Class is permanent.”

It is not the first time that Cazorla has shown off his ability with his weaker foot.

One famous instance was when he switched feet when taking a corner during his time at Arsenal.

Oveido held on to draw the match 1-1 and seal the 3-2 aggregate win in order to set up a play-off final against either Real Racing Club or CD Mirandes.

After the match, Cazorla took to social media to pen a message to the club’s fans.

He wrote: “Thank you, thank you, and a million thanks.

“You deserve the best and we will try once more.”

Cazorla signed for Arsenal back in 2012 from Malaga, having previously played in the academy of Oviedo between 1996 and 2003.

He made 180 appearances for the Gunners and scored 29 goals and provided 44 assists.

He left North London in 2018 and spent two years at Villarreal before a three-year stint with Al-Sadd in Qatar.

Cazorla made his emotional return to Oviedo in 2023 on an initial one-year contract.

He is paid the minimum of £80,000 a year, having originally tried to play for the club for FREE.

He has overcome multiple injuries to continue his career into his forties.

He played with a cracked bone during an international friendly between Spain and Chile in 2013. 

In 2016, he underwent surgery on the damaged ankle but was struck with an infection, further complicating his recovery. 

This would, unfortunately, become a running theme for Cazorla, who endured a number of reopened wounds, gangrene and bacterial infections. 

One such infection had eaten away at his Achilles tendon, spreading to the bone and putting him in danger of losing his leg. 

Since his original injury, Cazorla had a total of 10 operations including one skin-graft procedure which removed flesh from his left forearm removing his tattoo dedicated to his daughter India.  

Cazorla’s career

Villarreal

330 games, 57 goals, 57 assists

Arsenal

180 games, 29 goals, 45 assists, 2x FA Cups, 2x Community Shield

Al Sadd

97 games, 39 goals, 36 assists, 2x Qatar league titles, 2x Qatar Cup

Malaga

42 games, 9 goals, 8 assists

Recreativo Huelva

34 games, 5 goals, 0 assists

Real Oviedo

59 games, 3 goals, 9 assists

Spanish National Team

81 games, 15 goals, 11 assists, 2x European Championships

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