One of Arsenal's most beloved legends hangs up his boots

They loved him wherever he played, but it's hard to say whether he was adored anywhere more than at the Emirates Stadium. He was their magician, who gave everything for the red and white jersey during the six years he wore the cannon on his chest.

Now, eight years after his departure from North London, it's time for Arsenal and football fans to say goodbye to Santi Cazorla, who announced his retirement aged 41 with a heartwarming message on social media.

"We think life goes in circles until we realize that some stories never really end. They just take you back to the beginning. Like an 8. My story didn't begin in a big stadium or under bright lights. It began in Fonciello, on an ordinary field, with a ball and a little boy who only wanted to play soccer. From there, little by little, I found my way and experienced so many beautiful moments."

"I also went through moments I never expected, but I never stopped trying. In the end, I came back. Not to close a chapter, but to feel it again. To remember why I started."

"And now, when everything fades, when the boots are hung up and the noise turns into silence, everything makes sense. Because the ending wasn't somewhere else. It was at home, in the same place where the magic began. Some stories are never truly over. They stay with you forever. Like an 8 (jersey number). Like infinity," Cazorla wrote on social media (via Goal.com).

His 23-year professional career was full of ups and downs. He scored goals, won games and trophies, but also fought some serious battles, the biggest of them being his fight for his health.

Between 2015 and 2017, he underwent 11 surgeries on his ankle, as a bacterial infection threatened not only to end his career, but also to take away his ability to walk. In the end, the doctors were forced to take a skin graft from his forearm. Still, he overcame it all.

During his illustrious career, he played for Villarreal (three spells), Recreativo, Malaga, Arsenal, Al Sadd, and his boyhood club, Real Oviedo, where he returned three years ago to come full circle.

Oviedo gave him a fitting farewell, with the highlight being a message from Mikel Arteta, as the two shared the dressing room in North London and became very good friends. Would anyone be surprised if Cazorla joined Arsenal manager's coaching staff? Back in 2021, Santi said he was there to help.

With the Spain national team, Cazorla made 81 appearances and scored 15 goals, being a member of La Roja's incredible generation that won the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.

Now, a new chapter begins. It's time to create some new memories and enjoy retirement.