Santi Cazorla sends class message to Jack Wilshere after Arsenal exit

Santi Cazorla has called on Jack Wilshere to join him at Villarreal after the midfielder announced he would leave Arsenal when his contract expires this summer.

The 26-year-old has been with the north London club since he was a schoolboy, but after dispiriting talks with new manager Unai Emery it was made clear that he would not have a significant role to play going forward.

Cazorla was one of the first Arsenal players to send their support to Wilshere after his decision to leave the club, and he has encouraged his teammate to join him in Spain.

Replying to Wilshere’s emotional Instagram message announcing his departure, Cazorla wrote: ‘Super come with me please! I wish you all the best you are a great player and a top man.’

Alexandre Lacazette, Hector Bellerin and Serge Gnabry were among the Arsenal players, past and present, who also responded to Wilshere’s departure.

Writing on Instagram, Wilshere explained: ‘I can confirm that I will be leaving Arsenal when my contract expires at the end of June.

‘Following a number of extensive conversations with those art the club, and in particular a recent meeting with new manager Unai Emery, I felt that I was ultimately left with little choice but to make the decision that I have due to purely footballing reasons.’