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Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has said it’s been a long time since he saw Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil enjoy his football as he is at the moment.
The Gunners picked up their first win under the guidance of new manager Mikel Arteta on Wednesday, with Nicolas Pepe and Sokratis Papastathopoulos on the scoresheet in a 2-0 success over Manchester United. The win was enough to lift the team up into the top half of the Premier League table.
Ozil was at the heart of Arsenal’s swift attacking play and offered a reminder of what he is capable, having fallen out of the team earlier in the campaign. Speaking to BT Sport (h/t Josh Thomas of Goal), Ferdinand said he thinks the German is relishing being out on the field again thanks to Arteta:
“It’s freshened the place up, it went maybe stale under the previous manager, they maybe lacked belief in the manager’s tactics and his methods.
“We’ve both been there under different managers where you think, ‘I don’t believe in what this guy’s doing’ and that takes an edge off a performance subconsciously.
“The pictures we saw there when the whistle went with Arteta going on to the pitch—I’ve not seen Ozil smile like that for about 18 months. That tells you a story, he’s enjoying going to training, he’s enjoying playing. This kid here [Pepe], today he looked like a new player. That comes from confidence with the new manager.”
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“They were quicker, they were stronger, they were more aggressive. They’re traits we’ve not been able to say about an Arsenal team on a consistent basis.” ?
@rioferdy5 and @Persie_Official share their views on Arteta’s debut win as the Arsenal boss…
#BTAllDayer https://t.co/giv4G50QD0
Here are the highlights from the clash on Wednesday, as Arsenal picked up a crucial victory:
So far, the season has been one to forget for Arsenal, with former manager Unai Emery struggling and eventually being sacked. Arteta took the job recently, although it’s clear there’s a lot of work to be done at the Emirates.
Although Arteta only took one point from his first two games, there have been some positive signs from the team. Against United, they stepped up a level again against a dangerous United side.
James McNicholas of The Athletic commented on the spirit that was apparent among the players and fans following the win:
gunnerblog @gunnerblog
Not seen scenes like this at full-time for some time. Arteta embraced by the players, a genuine sense of togetherness in the group.
What a great night.
Ozil epitomised that. Not only did he operate with his usual elegance on the ball, the 31-year-old worked hard to win it back, per Sam Dean of the Daily Telegraph:
Sam Dean @SamJDean
Mesut Ozil regained possession 10 times tonight, more than any other #AFC player.
Arteta will be relieved to have got off the mark with the United win and will be pleased with the manner in which key players appear to be reacting to his methods.
Getting senior figures on board early in his tenure was always going to be crucial to him enjoying a strong start as boss. If Arteta can get Ozil working hard and weaving his magic on a consistent basis, he is capable of having a hugely positive impact in the remaining weeks of the season.
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