Arsenal excitement fuelled over popular Mikel Arteta link-up after star shares photo

Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson has teased a potential return to the Emirates Stadium for one of Mikel Arteta’s former team-mates. Nelson is one of several players to have jetted out to Marbella for some early pre-season training ahead of a renewed Premier League title challenge.

Ben White, Eddie Nketiah, Jurrien Timber, Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira have joined Nelson in working on their fitness and form in sunny Spain, according to CBS. Whilst out on the pitch, they were joined by former Arsenal playmaker Santi Cazorla in a move that will surely excite Gunners fans.

Nelson took to Instagram to share a photo of himself and Cazorla with their arms around each other and big smiles on their faces. The Spaniard, who played 180 games for Arsenal during his six-year spell at the club, has recently been linked with a potential return in a coaching capacity.

However, it seems any move back to north London will need to wait until next summer following Cazorla’s decision to sign a new deal at Real Oviedo. He made 24 appearances for the club last season as they narrowly missed out on promotion to La Liga, losing to Espanyol in the play-offs.

Speaking last month, Cazorla revealed he had spoken to Arteta about returning to Arsenal but eventually decided to prolong his playing career by staying at Oviedo.

He told Sky Sports: “I have a very special affection for Arsenal. I spent six wonderful years there and I know how much all the people love me there. Of course, I was fortunate to share a dressing room with Mikel Arteta and now he is the manager.

“We had conversations about that but right now I am not focused on anything other than contributing to this club, Oviedo, and continuing to enjoy football as a player. After that, we will see what the future holds for me.

“It is clear that Arsenal is a club that has always left the door open to me to return. But right now, I have enough on my mind with the play-offs and trying to enjoy the last days of my playing career.”

Cazorla was known for his impressive awareness and tactical flexibility during his time at Arsenal, who signed him from Malaga in the summer of 2012. He won two FA Cups and two Community Shields with the Gunners before returning to his native Spain in 2018.