Paul Merson has agreed with Jack Wilshere's assessment that Arsenal would be having greater success this season if Mesut Ozil were involved.
The German playmaker has been frozen out of the team by Mikel Arteta, and was left out of their Premier League and Europa League squads.
The Gunners are struggling for form, and the weekend's defeat against Wolves means they have now won just one of their last six Premier League games.
Ozil's former teammate Wilshere spoke out earlier this week about his disappointment over how the situation has developed.
In an interview with Sky Sports, he said: "I think he'd be a big player in that team.
"I would love to see Ozil play in that team under Arteta but obviously that's not happening at the moment. He could get on the ball and feed the likes of [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang and [Alexandre] Lacazette."
And Merson concurred with Wilshere's view, agreeing that Ozil's vision and passing ability could have brought out the best in the misfiring Aubameyang.
"For me, Mesut Ozil comes back in the team if Thomas Partey is fit," Merson told Sky Sports.
"Partey gets around the pitch, dominates the midfield and dictates the game. Him playing opens up a chance for Ozil.
"At the moment, Arsenal have nobody in there to provide the forwards.You can make runs all day long, but if you're a centre-forward, your runs are only as good as the players playing behind you.
"When these Arsenal players are getting the ball in midfield, with time, is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang making the run? Is he confident they are going to see his run and are capable of getting that ball through the eye of a needle?
"I'd say no, so they need creativity. Fernando Torres made runs when Steven Gerrard got the ball. They didn't even have to look."
The earliest Ozil would be able to return to the side is February, but it is looking increasingly likely he has played his last game for Arsenal in what would be a hugely underwhelming end to his spell at the Emirates.
