Arsenal Vs Manchester City: 5 key players to watch – We’re back, baby

On Wednesday evening, the Premier League returns as Arsenal travel to face Manchester City. Here are five key players to watch ahead of the daunting trip.

Well, here it is. The return of the Premier League. And for Arsenal, it starts with the simple task of beating the champions in their home stadium. Manchester City have been the dominant team in English football since Pep Guardiola arrived. They were so dominant that the Gunners hired his former assistant, Mikel Arteta. Now he will lead his team against the mighty City and look to inspire the impossible.

With that in mind, then, here are five key players to watch.

5. Mesut Ozil

Mesut Ozil endured perhaps his lowest moment as an Arsenal player in the return fixture earlier this season. Utterly awful and disinterested for an hour, meandering around the pitch as if he was watching the match, not playing in it, Freddie Ljungerb eventually hauled him off for Emile Smith Rowe who provided more commitment and industry from the moment he took to the pitch. Ozil, meanwhile, trudged off to a chorus of well-deserved boos.

Since Arteta took over as head coach, he looked to reintegrate the playmaker into the starting XI. He has built the midfield around the German, hoping to lean on his creative play in the final third to unlock the speedy attacking players around him. This idealistic approach has not quite clicked just yet, but Ozil has worked harder and showed a more willing attitude. Now, though, he has one of his biggest tests to overcome.

Even when he was in fine fettle and sailing through matches, Ozil always had the big-game criticism levelled at him. It wasn’t unfair. He has a propensity to go missing when he is needed most, especially away from home. Now, on the biggest stage, as he looks to avenge being booed off the Emirates pitch, can he deliver?