Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has hailed the Premier League as the most difficult league in world football.
The Spaniard is entering his fifth season at the Emirates, but endured a horrendous campaign last year whenin Novemberhe tore hislateral collateral ligament in his knee, sidelining him for over five months.
His absence was a huge miss for Arsenal with Leicester City trumping the North Londoners to the title, but having regained full fitness and completing his first 90 minutes in the 8-0 thrashing of Viking FK, Cazorla is eager for the season to start.
He toldFourFourTwo:We are very excited for the season. It will be very difficult because there are a lot of great teams - like Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City - but we have a good team.
"We are very confident, and we want to start the league in the best form and start the league with a win against Liverpool, let's hope.�
The 31-year-old returned to action at the back end of last season but saw the league and Spain's underwhelmingEuro 2016 adventurepass him by.
Cazorla has made over 160 appearances for Arsenal since 2012, but he says that this season promises to be the most difficultyet since his arrival from Malaga.
It's much better now [than when I joined Arsenal].When I arrived it was a great league - one of the best in the world - but now it's a little better, because of the big coaches, like Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.
"It's a good thing for the league.For me, [the Premier League] is the more difficult [league than La Liga].
"I played in Spain before, many, many years.It's true it's difficult, but I think it's different because always win Barcelona, Real Madrid, maybe now Atletico [Madrid].
"But in England, it's always difficult. Did you see we have example last season: Leicester [City] win the league!
"I think it's the most difficult league in the world.�