Former Tottenham Hotspur striker and Arsenal fan Darren Bent has insisted that Mesut Ozil has been their best player since Mikel Arteta's arrival.
The German was desperately out of form and, at times, out of favour under Unai Emery.
However, since Arteta's arrival, the German has come to life, operating in his favoured number ten role with two defensive midfielders behind him.
That showed during Arsenal's 2-0 win over Manchester United on New Year's Day, with the World Cup winner producing a stand-out display.
After a strong start to life under Arteta, Bent has insisted that the 31-year-old look revitalised under the Spaniard and has been the Gunners' best performer since he arrived.
Speaking to talkSPORT , Bent said: “We all know Mesut Ozil’s strengths are getting on the ball, going forward, making things happen and picking the right pass at the right time.
“I trust him more than any other player in the Arsenal squad to make the right pass and the right time and make the right decision.
“But when you’re asking him to track runners and chase people, you’re taking away what Ozil does well.
“If he’s having to chase someone back 60 yards but then you’re expecting him to get on the ball and do the damage going the other way, it’s not going to work!
“But now Mikel Arteta has come in and found a way to play to Ozil’s strengths, and I really like it, by playing Xhaka and Torreira behind him effectively as water-carriers.
“It might be disrespectful to say that, but they sit behind him and mop up, protect the back-four and are solely in there to just defend, which gives Ozil the free licence to go forward and make things happen.
“And we’ve seen that; he’s had three good games where he’s played in that advanced number ten 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.”
