Arsenal's Henrikh Mkhitaryan insists he and Mesut Ozil can play well in same team

Ozil and Mkhitaryan won't play together until March's clash with City
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
James Olley22 February 2018

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has hit back at critics claiming he can’t be effective alongside Mesut Ozil in the same Arsenal team.

The 29-year-old has made a promising start to his Gunners career after registering five assists in two games against Everton and Ostersund but in between, both Mkhitaryan and Ozil struggled in a north London derby defeat at Tottenham.

That performance led to the suggestion Mkhitaryan and Ozil are too similar in style to play together but manager Arsene Wenger has frequently claimed the pair can be accommodated in the same starting line-up.

And Mkhitaryan told ESPN FC: “Some people are saying we cannot play together, but I can’t understand these people that are saying that. I’m just enjoying playing with Mesut and he’s an amazing football player.

“I’m getting better playing with him, everyone knows his skills, abilities, so why not? Everything is possible, why not have two number tens on a pitch?”

Mkhitaryan has played on the left with Ozil in a number ten role while he made his Arsenal debut following last month’s swap move from Manchester United as a late substitute at Swansea in a deeper midfield role.

He is expected to start in a more advanced role on Thursday as Arsenal look to book their spot in the Europa League last 16, defending a 3-0 first leg against Ostersund at Emirates Stadium.

Ozil is set to miss the game through illness and with Mkhitaryan cup-tied for Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final against Manchester City, the duo will have to wait for the following Thursday’s Premier League meeting with Pep Guardiola’s side to prove their point together.

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