Santi Cazorla has admitted that he's got excited about the prospect of playing for Spain at Euro 2020.
The midfielder has hauled himself back into international contention after a couple of extraordinary seasons with Villarreal.
He spoke to MARCA about his current club, his goalscoring, Arsenal, retirement and much more in an exclusive interview.
What a season! Your numbers are amazing. You've equalled your best scoring season - 2012/13 - with 12 goals for Villarreal
I've always wanted to improve my goalscoring record. In my first season with Arsenal, I scored 12 and I'd never scored so many goals. I'm having that luck again this season because, although many of them are penalties, I always say that you have to score them.
There are lots of games to go and let's hope I can improve this number and, above all, help the team a lot.
Would you be disappointed if you don't go to Euro 2020?
Not disappointing because I know my age and I know the players that are there. But yes, it's true that I've got excited about being there. It was something that I'd written off when I returned to football; even the day that they called me up again I knew it was a reward and without too many expectations of staying in the squad.
But I've kept playing at Villarreal and the national coaches have confidence in me and this has excited me. I spoke to [Luis Enrique] for 10 minutes recently when he came to the game yesterday and I'm grateful for his words.
Is this Spain team far off from the one that won all those trophies?
We always have to compare in this country and that's a mistake because any national team is losing [in that debate]. We have to leave people alone because players are coming through with promising futures. I think that this summer, there are options to compete to win the Euros because it's very even between various teams and Spain are there.
Your contract is up in June. What plans do you have for the future?
I haven't made any long-term plans, not at 35 years old. I will finish the season and see what my body is telling me because I get up feeling different each day. I've always said that I'd return here to play at my best and when I see that I'm not even at 80 percent, I will step aside and let young players come through.
Right now, I'm happy, but I notice my age; the injury is there and it's getting more difficult. I'm not planning anything right now, but it's clear that playing in Europe is a plus for any player. I will decide in the summer.