Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has revealed which two players he expects to thrive next season under newly appointed manager Unai Emery.
Parlour believes that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil are likely to have an impressive campaign under the stewardship of Emery.
“I tell you who I think will have a really good season, Aubameyang,” said the Gunners legend, who helped launch Arsenal’s 2018/19 away kit on Thursday.
“He’s come in late and showed he’s a natural finisher. I can see him being up there for top goalscorer next season. he’s that good.”
Ozil has come under fire from sections of the media for a seamlessly never-ending set of reasons.
Parlour has come out in defence of the playmaker of Turkish origin and feels he could be the star man Emery shapes his team around.
“He’s a top player,” said Parlour. “It’s a little bit unfair at time the criticism he gets.
“He’s always going to be targeted because he’s on big money but if you watch him play he’s a very claver player, so Emery might even build a team around him.”
Parlour added: “I think it is a very good squad on paper, it’s just about getting the right blend of attacking football and a defensive unit.
“Sometimes last year they didn’t really know how to change and that’s why the away results were so bad because they went away and were thinking they were at the Emirates still.
“They went out too open and I think he will change that a little bit. I think he’ll bring a bit more of a pressing game as well, a little bit more energy the team – so the players will know about that when he first comes in.
“Pre-season is always very important as a player, I’m sure he will be working them very hard in training to see who can handle the pressure and who can handle the pace of the game.”
Ozil is currently on international duty with Germany at the World Cup.
The Germans have not been any kinder to the 29-year-old, in fact they have actually been even harsher than Premier League pundits.
Several former Germany national team players including Lohar Matthaus, Stefen Effenberg and Mario Basler singled the 29-year-old after the loss to Mexico.
“He’s over-rated as a footballer. I have to say it over and over again – he has the body language of a dead frog. It’s pathetic,” Basler stated live on TV, his words were applauded by the live audience.
Ozil was also dropped against Sweden on Match Day 2 after 26 consecutive starts in major tournaments.
It remains to be seen whether Joachim Low will include Ozil in the first-team against South Korea in the final Group F game.