Arsenal hero Robert Pires believes they've badly missed Santi Cazorla this season.
The Spaniard, 32, last played for Arsenal in October and a second operation on his ankle could have kept him out for the season.
Asked why Arsenal have been so poor this term, Pires told Bwin: "Santi Cazorla. His loss really affected this team and I'm sure if we'd have had Santi playing, we'd be much higher up.
"He's such a difficult player to replace because technically, he's one of the best players in the Premier League.
"I know Santi very well, and played with him at Villarreal and I remember saying 'Who is this guy!?' - he is an exceptionally talented footballer.
"He's the metronome, he dictates play and can play with both feet, which keeps defenders honest.
"The most important thing is that he can control the ball and the tempo of the team and when you're in a tough situation, he is calm and can keep the team playing."
Source: tribalfootball.com