Arsenal duo Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette have taken sly digs at Unai Emery by explaining how Mikel Arteta has improved the Gunners.
Emery was sacked last November as Freddie Ljungberg took over on an interim basis, before Arteta ultimately became the long-term successor last December.
Whilst results have not exactly been brilliant by any means since Arteta landed the role, Ozil and Lacazette have been speaking about the Spaniard's ability to inspire.
The Arsenal players were talking at the club's warm-weather training camp in Dubai during the winter break and had some praise for the 37-year-old.
"As a team, we are much happier and everyone wants to give everything for this club" said Ozil, per Mirror Football. "Especially tactically we have improved a lot and I hope in the future we will be more successful."
Lacazette added: "We are more together now. The way we think as well on the pitch and outside the pitch. Tactically we are better and we’re going to see a big improvement in the next few weeks."
These views come on the back of comments from Emery about the situation he was handed at the Gunners.
"Arsenal was a club on the downward slope for two years when I arrived," Emery told France Football.
"But it was a good season and we had the idea to continue this progression. But we lost our four captains: [Laurent] Koscielny, [Petr] Cech, [Aaron] Ramsey and [Nacho] Monreal.
"We have missed personalities this season to stay on track. And some stars did not have the right attitude and asked for more than they gave.
"Given all that, it would have taken more time to successfully transition to the new Arsenal that I wanted."
