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Pires: Ozil can make difference
- Updated: November 18, 2016
Mesut Ozil can prove the catalyst to Arsenal finally getting their hands back on the Premier League title, according to former Gunners midfielder Robert Pires.
Arsenal take on rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime – in a match you can see live on Sky Sports 1 HD – having enjoyed an impressive start to the season.
Arsene Wenger’s side sit fourth in the table, just two points behind leaders Liverpool, with Ozil’s preformances crucial to their good form domestically and in Europe.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports’ Geoff Shreeves, Pires said: “I always believe in Arsenal and the squad. At this point, Mesut Ozil can make the difference and I hope he can make Arsenal win the title this season because he has very good quality. Now he needs to put in his head that he can score.”
The Germany international has scored seven times and contributed a further four assists in 14 games in all competitions this campaign, but it has been his goalscoring exploits that has pleased Pires the most.
“Normally he wants to pass or assist, which is very good and I love it when you have a player like him on the pitch,” Pires added. “But sometimes you need an ego, not too much, but a little bit of an ego. But I do not want to put too much pressure on Mesut though!”
Pires, who spent six seasons with the Gunners, likened the 28-year-old’s influence to that of his former Arsenal team-mate, Dutch maestro Dennis Bergkamp.
“I do not like to compare the players, the team or the manager”, he said. “But for example in my time, it was an honour to train every morning with Bergkamp or Thierry Henry.
“But as I am still training with the team, I can judge some players. Because if I can compare Ozil and Bergkamp, they are very similar in everything because they can smell the same football.
“They play for the team and not anyone else, they have very good control. Bergkamp and Ozil can play very long balls and they have very good vision. Ozil and Bergkamp are very close.”
However, it is not just Ozil, but players of the quality of Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Laurent Koscielny who give Pires the belief his old team can win their first title since he was part of the 2003-04 ‘Invincibles’ side.
He added: “I think when you see the …
