Mikel Arteta warns Arsenal players that Mesut Ozil cannot lift the fans on his own

Mikel Arteta has warned the rest of the Arsenal squad they cannot expect Mesut Ozil to lift the mood at Emirates Stadium on his own.

The German has had a difficult campaign this season, but he was one of the major positives from Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.

Ozil turned in one of his best performances of the calendar year and received a standing ovation when he was substituted.

Arteta, however, has told the Arsenal squad the onus cannot simply be on Ozil to lift the mood as Arsenal welcome Manchester United to the Emirates on New Year’s Day.

“On his own he can’t do it. That’s what I was saying. He needs the collective structure and organisation and his teammates,” said Arteta.

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“Nowadays, there are only one or two players in the world who can do something on their own. He needs help and he needs the team to play in a certain way to facilitate his strengths more and more in the game. That’s what we’re trying to do.

“I’m hoping he can sustain this level every three or four days. He’s putting in everything he has to try and do that, and I think his numbers physically have improved so much as well. He’s willing every day in training.

“I know him really well, so I’m not surprised [at his form]. I know his ability and I know the player we have there, and as well, the structure has to be there to be able to help him to take everything that he has inside.”

Arsenal host Manchester United on Wednesday having taken nine League points from the last 36 available to them.

It is a run of form that has led to the Gunners losing four consecutive home matches in all competitions for the first time since December 1959 and Arteta admits the players’ confidence is in danger of being impacted.

“That’s my worry now. I hope that the result doesn’t effect them too much,” he said.

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“They were all physically blown and disappointed in how the game ended [against Chelsea] because they don’t feel that they deserved that, but we have to move on.

“Every game for us is a must win. Against any opponent we have to win. We are Arsenal and these are the demands. The level of pressure is different when you look up the table or down.

“At the moment I wouldn’t pay too much attention to the table, but to our performance and the result relating to the performance that we can put on the pitch.”

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