Arsenal icon Robert Pires has hailed Mesut Ozil as “a magician” - and believes his performances have echoes of the legendary Dennis Bergkamp.
Ozil has endured somewhat of a tough campaign under Unai Emery’s leadership this season, struggling with injuries and failing to fully win over the new boss.
The German has made just 18 appearance in the Premier League this term, scoring just four goals and providing two assists.
But Pires, the Gunners hero who was part of the title-winning Invincibles team of 2003-04, feels Ozil is up there with the best to have played for the club.
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"He hasn’t started many games [recently] because he's been injured with a small back problem. But now, the most important thing is to see Mesut in the line-up," he told Joe .
"He’s very clever, he can make good assists and sometimes he can score.
”For me, he’s like Dennis Bergkamp, he’s a magician, a maestro.
"Of course, he’s not a warrior, like Dennis... or like me. But in the team, you need everything. And when you have Mesut, he’s important."
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Pires has also claimed Emery can end his first season in England with a top four finish and the Europa League trophy.
The Gunners are currently embroiled in a four-way battle for a top-four finish along with Tottenham , Manchester United and Chelsea .
Emery has also guided the North Londoners to the Europa League quarter-finals, where they face Napoli.
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"I think Unai Emery is a good manager, he’s won some titles with Sevilla, with Paris Saint-Germain,’ the Gunners Invincible told ESPN, via Metro .
"For the end of the season, he has two targets: to reach the top four and – why not? – to win the Europa League competition.
"I think they can reach both targets. Of course it will be very difficult, but the squad is very good, we have good quality.”
