LONDON -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes midfielder Santi Cazorla is in the best form of his career and has made the most of his recent run in a central role.
Cazorla, 30, was hailed as Arsenal's star performer in Sunday's 2-0 win at Manchester City, opening the scoring from the penalty spot before setting up Olivier Giroud for his side's second goal.
Injuries to Jack Wilshere and Mesut Ozil opened the door for Cazorla to remind Wenger of his qualities as a midfield playmaker, but the Arsenal boss insisted he is not surprised by the form of his Spain international.
"He is very talented football player and since he plays central, he has taken on another dimension," Wenger told a news conference. "On the flank he was a bit more exposed to things where he is not at his best.
"In the middle of the park he gets you out of situations when you are under pressure. Technically he is always perfect. In the recent games, he is in the best form of his career. He is happy to play anywhere. He is happy to be the ball every day and he is a perfect example of every young player to follow."
Wenger added that he is pleased to have competition for attacking places in his side with Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil among the long-term absentees now available again.
"It's true that there is competition for places at the moment and that is a luxury that only a club of our stature can afford, but it can make the players better," he said. "The competition can keep everyone on their toes. It is not their quality that is questioned, it is the fact they have just come back from long term injuries.
"The best 11 that I have my head can change every week. We are in a world where competition is vital and the decisions are down to the performances in the last game."
Wenger hopes his side's display against City sets the tone for his team in the second half of the season, as he suggested defensive solidity was key to their win at the Etihad Stadium.
"It was a very controlled performance, great solidarity and togetherness," he added. "Everyone contributed with hard work and a great work rate. If we can we keep that focus and improve our quality, we can only get better.
"Of course we want to show the same performance every week. The spirit was always there, but we have not always had the same defensive solidity. We have many times been in a position where we had to throw everything forward because we conceded early goals."