Santi Cazorla was left feeling hugely relieved after being unveiled as a Villarreal player on Thursday for his third spell at the club.

The Spanish midfielder left Arsenal this summer after joining the Gunners in 2012 but experienced horrific luck with injuries.

Since then, Cazorla’s career has been blighted by spells on the sidelines, and he has required surgery eight times to get to this point, with an infection after one of these operations, in 2017, nearly leading to his foot being amputated.

“All the suffering has been worth it for this moment alone,” Cazorla said after signing with the club where he started his career, making 228 appearances for the Yellow Submarine during two separate spells, from 2003 to 2006 and 2007 to 2011.

He returned to Villarreal this summer on trial, and proved his fitness in order to earn a one-year contract.

“Now it’s time to work hard and I’m looking forward to this new challenge at Villarreal. My idea is to give everything and to be at the top level.

“I have to enjoy the moment, but I’m demanding and I want to keep improving. I won’t conform, that’s not me. I still have some pains and I want to get rid of them and be 100 percent. I think I can improve my level in the future.”

Photo taken from Villarreal’s official website.