Former Premier League striker Darren Bent believes Mesut Ozil has been Arsenal’s best player since the arrival of Mikel Arteta as manager.
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Ozil has had to work his way into the first-team squad this season, with Arteta’s predecessor Unai Emery selecting the 31-year-old sporadically in the earlier months of the campaign.
However, he has started every game since Arteta took charge, and Bent feels no player in red and white has progressed as well as the German during that time.
Bent told TalkSPORT: “I trust him more than any other player in the Arsenal squad to make the right pass at the right time and make the right decision.
“Mikel Arteta has come in and found a way to play to Ozil’s strengths, and I really like it, by playing [Granit] Xhaka and [Lucas] Torreira behind him effectively as water-carriers.
“He’s had three good games where he’s played in that advanced number-10 role because he’s got two people behind him effectively doing all his defensive responsibilities.
“He’s arguably been Arsenal’s best player since Arteta came in.
“Arteta seems to be getting the best out of Ozil.”
This latest praise of Ozil seems to vindicate the German’s selection in more recent weeks and months, having spent a fair chunk of the season on the bench or out of the squad altogether.
Despite that, the midfielder has shown a fair amount of consistency when called upon, with his pass success rate in the Premier League only dipping below 84% on one occasion – rather curiously in the game that delivered his highest-rated performance this season against Southampton, according to WhoScored.
Meanwhile, his running statistics in Wednesday’s win over Manchester United perhaps show an added side to Ozil that has previously been less apparent and a potential sign of the effect Arteta is having as Arsenal boss.
Given it is still very much early days for the Gunners manager, the initial signs that Bent touches on could point towards a brighter future for Arsenal.
Arsenal fans, who has been your brightest spark since Arteta came in? Let us know your thoughts below!
