adminLONDON. — Santi Cazorla wants to return to his scoring consistency of two seasons ago and strengthen Arsenal’s challenge for honours this season.
The Spain midfielder struck seven goals last season and will hope to open his English Premier League account this term when Arsene Wenger’s side face Everton at Goodison Park today.
His goal return in the 2013/14 campaign was down on the 12 goals he scored during his first season at the club and, while Cazorla missed out in the narrow opening day win over Crystal Palace, he provided a reminder of his threat with Arsenal’s first goal in the Community Shield win over Manchester City.
“Kicking off a new season in that fashion is always nice: winning a title and also helping by scoring a goal,” Cazorla said. “That keeps your morale high. As I always say, my target is helping the team with goals.
“I hope to equal or beat my goalscoring tally from last season. That’s something every player wants to achieve.”
He added: “Hopefully, I’ll help the team with many goals because that would be a signal that I can be useful.
“My first season here was very good. I managed to beat my scoring record – which had been nine with Malaga – with 12 goals. Last season I wasn’t so consistent because I struggled with ankle problems after an injury with Spain. For this reason I lacked consistency,” Cazorla explained.
“But in the end we managed to win a title after so many years and hopefully this year I’ll be able to give 100 percent physically and mentally in order to lift more trophies.”
Mikel Arteta will miss out on the chance to face his former club after injuring his ankle during the goalless draw at Besiktas in this week’s Champions League qualifier.
Wenger, the Gunners manager, must decide whether to restore Per Mertesacker to central defence or continue with 19-year-old Calum Chambers in the role.
Mertesacker, along with Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski, was given extended leave after helping Germany to win the World Cup.
But Chambers has impressed in an unfamiliar role following his arrival from Southampton.
Everton collected four points from their two Premier League matches against the Gunners last season but finished seven points behind Arsenal in the table.
Blues manager Roberto Martinez feels FA Cup holders Arsenal will be a much better side this season and is predicting an exciting contest at Goodison Park.
“I think this Arsenal side are better than they were last season with the additions they have made,” Martinez said. “But they’re very similar to us with the philosophy that they have.
“The way Arsenal play has earned a real sense of admiration from people in world football. At Goodison, we really enjoy our football and we can’t wait to get our season started at home from that perspective,” the Spaniard added.
“I think both teams are going to fight really hard to control the game and get on the ball. The difference is how good you can be in the final third.”
Everton will have Republic of Ireland duo Seamus Coleman and Darron Gibson available for the match.
Right-back Coleman suffered a hamstring problem in pre-season but came off the bench during last week’s 2-2 draw at newly-promoted Leicester, while Gibson is now fit again after suffering a serious knee injury in October.
However, Ross Barkley, Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone remain long-term absentees.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s regrets about missing out on a first English league title for 24 years last season will be stronger than ever on Monday when they visit champions Manchester City, who pipped them by two points.
The meeting of last term’s top two is the highlight of the weekend English Premier League programme, in which Arsenal and Manchester United face tricky away games while Chelsea will expect to record a second straight win over a promoted side.
Liverpool will make the short motorway trip east to Manchester knowing they should be arriving as title holders.
With three matches to play last season, Brendan Rodgers’ side were nine points clear of City, who had two games in hand but had just lost 3-2 at Anfield.
Liverpool then lost at home to Chelsea, and then frittered away a three-goal lead at Crystal Palace, allowing City to finish top by winning their four remaining games.
The Manchester side were the more impressive of the two on the opening weekend of the new campaign, easing to a 2-0 win at Newcastle United with goals by David Silva and Sergio Aguero.
Liverpool, now without last season’s leading scorer Luis Suarez, were below their best at home to Southampton and needed a late goal from Daniel Sturridge to win 2-1.
City’s neighbours Manchester United visit Sunderland tomorrow hoping to shrug off last weekend’s surprise 2-1 home defeat by Swansea City in their first league match under new manager Louis van Gaal.
The experienced Dutchman will have spent the week trying to restore his players’ confidence, which he was said was “smashed” by the Swansea result.
“We make steps and you have to learn from your steps,” he told the club’s in-house television station MUTV.
The late kick-off (6:30pm) today sees Arsenal travel to Everton, needing to recover physically from a long trip to Istanbul in the Champions League playoff round on Tuesday, when they were somewhat fortunate to draw 0-0 with Besiktas.
Last April. Arsene Wenger’s team lost 3-0 at Everton, one of several emphatic away defeats which they need to improve on this season.
Chelsea, comfortable 3-1 winners at Burnley on Monday, when Spain’s Diego Costa scored on his competitive debut, play last season’s Championship winners Leicester City, who were impressive in holding Everton 2-2 in their first Premier League match for 10 years.
The other two matches in London are both derbies with special managerial interest.
Harry Redknapp, sacked by Tottenham Hotspur two years ago despite leading them to fourth place, returns to White Hart Lane in charge of Queens Park Rangers, with former Spurs midfield hero and manager Glenn Hoddle now in his coaching team.
Crystal Palace and West Ham United, both beaten by London rivals on the opening day, meet at Selhurst Park with the home club looking for a new boss.
Last season Palace won both meetings on their way to finishing unexpectedly high in 11th place, having been widely tipped for relegation.
But they have to regroup quickly after Tony Pulis, the architect of that achievement, left two days before the start of the new season, reportedly following a dispute about new transfer targets.
Fixtures (all 4pm unless otherwise stated)
Today: Aston Villa v Newcastle (1:45pm); Chelsea v Leicester; Crystal Palace v West Ham; Southampton v West Brom; Swansea v Burnley; Everton v Arsenal (6:30pm).
Tomorrow: Hull v Stoke (2:30pm); Tottenham v QPR (2:30pm); Sunderland v Manchester United (5pm).
Monday: Manchester City v Liverpool (9pm).
Online Reporter