Everything he said was very positive, and I was quickly convinced since I find the club awesome. So it’s very important to play together and we are happy to play with him.
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Asked if Ozil’s presence had made a difference for the Gunners, Wenger replied: “Especially in the first half”.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is effusive in his praise for summer signing Granit Xhaka following his performance during the 3-1 win over Watford.
The 25-year-old scored three goals in 33 appearances in all competitions in his first season at Southampton last term.
“I believe he has a good mixture of short and long balls, in midfield it is important for us to sometimes stretch the defenders, ” Wenger continued.
“I haven’t spoken to Per [Mertesacker] yet, but I spoke with Mesut [Özil] & he told me everything [about the club]”.
“We paid a heavy price in our first game (the 4-3 defeat by Liverpool) because we were not ready”.
“To reach our best level will take perhaps two more weeks”.
However, the standout player at Vicarage Road was Wenger’s new Swiss midfielder, who provided a protective shield and displayed a willingness to drop deep alongside a striking elegance on the ball and eye for a pass. “Unfortunately they managed to score a goal and the game then became more lively”.
“I believe we shot ourselves in the foot in the first game and were under huge pressure”.
With just one point from their opening two matches, Wenger and his side arrived at Vicarage Road under pressure with flawless starts from both Manchester clubs and Chelsea having left them already playing catch-up.
Departing Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi is excited to be joining Arsenal.
“We live to fight another day”, he said. “We have not got any plans for anyone else now”.
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If their win at Watford is enough evidence the Gunners have found their rhythm in the new season and the new signings will only boost them farther. He’s a manager with a lot of experience in Italy and has a new challenge here.
