When Santi Cazorla stepped onto the Emirates pitch to play his first ever game in the English Premier League, you would never have guessed he was making his league debut, let alone for Arsenal. There were no signs of that whatsoever.

Thriving in the No 10 role, Cazorla looked every bit the player everybody was talking about, and more importantly, hoping he would be. The diminutive playmaker, excelled in the hole behind the main striker, and was the best player on the pitch for Arsenal in a disappointing 0-0 draw against Sunderland.

"The manager played me as a second striker, with the freedom that I like to have," Cazorla told the club's official website. "It's a position I really like, and it's not one I've played in much in recent years, but I will play there without problems.

"It felt really good making my debut. Of course, it was not the result any of us wanted -- we wanted to start the season by winning in front of our own fans, but we had chances and we did well.

"It's a long season, so we can build on this. I had one chance and so did a few of my colleagues and that was the key to the game. We had complete control of the match but that final step just eluded us."

The Spaniard has had no problems in adjusting to his new surroundings, and has felt right at home at Arsenal, also adapting to the pace of the English Premier League really well. "Every day I'm becoming more used to (my team-mates) and I'm enjoying myself more," the 27-year-old said. "The club have done a lot to help me settle in the team and to make it easy for me to get used to life in the city.

"Every day is a little bit better and I feel a little more comfortable.

"Here in England there is a faster rhythm to the game, a higher tempo. In Spain games are more cautious, more tactical. Here there is more tempo, more to-ing and fro-ing, but I like it."

Cazorla is your typical modern Spanish playmaker - small in stature, but packed with technical ability and vision. The former Malaga and Villarreal player does not believe it takes physical presence to succeed in the Premier League. "It's overstated, the idea that smaller, technical players can't do well here," he said.

"We have powerful players in Spain, too. Being tall isn't what makes you a good footballer and I don't think that's the defining factor in English football at all."

Cazorla revealed he was asked to sing a song by his new teammates during his 'initiation' ceremony at the club. "Here the new signings always have to sing a song when they arrive at the club and so I had to do it the other day, just like everyone else," he said.

"I did the Macarena. Yes, I know that (Juan) Mata did the same song at Chelsea. It's quite an easy song to do and people seem to like it!"

Meanwhile, Per Mertesacker expects his countryman Lukas Podolski to adapt to the Arsenal's style of play quickly, after a frustrating debut for the striker. Arsene Wenger has revealed his desire to turn Podolski into a pure center forward, and Mertesacker is confident his experienced German international teammate will find his true goal-scoring form soon.

"It was tough for him (on Saturday) because it was his first game up front," Mertesacker told the club's official website. "I think he will get used to the game, switch on quickly and score a lot for us.

"You have seen that he has a good technique and he is good in possession. We have the players who can pass him the ball. He is a good finisher too and we will see that in a couple of weeks.

"We saw a lot of misunderstandings, especially in the first half. One guy maybe wanted the one-two, the other in behind. So we need a bit of time, especially with the new players. We had a few new players who were playing their first game over 90 minutes. But I think it is coming."