Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp believes Arsenal's summer signing Santi Cazorla is as good as departed captain Cesc Fabregas - if not better.
Arsenal desperately missed the services of Fabregas last season, after the Spanish international decided to move back to his hometown club Barcelona. However, with the summer arrival of Cazorla from Malaga, that void has been filled remarkably by the fellow Spaniard.
"Cazorla is a superb footballer and I think Arsenal have got a real diamond," Redknapp wrote in his column for The Sun. "However much they got for Cesc Fabregas, £40million ($64.6 million) or whatever it was, they have managed to replace him for less than half the money.
"I am a huge fan of Cesc, but I honestly don't think there is anything between the two of them. They're both top Spanish internationals -- and Cazorla will be a truly great signing for the Gunners.
"Probably the best one any side made this summer, in my opinion."
Cazorla will look to help Arsenal back to winning ways when they take on Olympiakos in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Arsenal forward Gervinho, who scored a brilliant goal against Chelsea, has stressed the importance of putting behind the disappointing loss last weekend and look to get back to winning ways. "It's a big disappointment," Gervinho told the club's official website. "These games against opponents for the title, we can't afford to lose them, especially at home. They count a lot in a season.
"We had a great team against us, with great players, technical players. Chelsea managed to keep the ball well and caused us problems.
"It would have been great for us to win it but we had no luck and we were not as good as our last game. It's a big disappointment.
"But we need to swallow this defeat and to focus again on Wednesday's game -- because that is another big game."
Olivier Giroud has been criticized for his profligacy in front of goal and the critics were given more reason after the Frenchman missed a great chance to equalize right at the death against Chelsea. The striker, however, is confident the goals will eventually come. "It was a good pass from Alex (Oxlade-Chamberlain) and I think that I needed to go round the keeper as he came out quickly," Giroud said.
"If I chipped the ball, the defender could have saved it. So I think I made the right call.
"I scored in midweek (against Coventry City in the League Cup) and it was really good for me to score. And I will keep working hard to score goals."
Arsenal fans, who will be buoyed by the return of Jack Wilshere to competitive action, will certainly be hoping the French international gets his scoring boots on sooner rather than later.
