Unai Emery believes a candid chat with Mesut Ozil has helped draw top form out of the Arsenal playmaker.
Ozil swept home a fine finish and conjured a magical assist for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Arsenal overwhelmed Leicester 3-1 in Monday night’s Premier League encounter.
Ozil was in vintage form as the Gunners registered their 10th win in a row in all competitions, leading to high praise from manager Emery.
Asked how he had harnessed Ozil’s many talents into top form, Emery replied: “It’s very important we spoke. We want to enjoy ourselves, but to enjoy working hard.
“If you want to win you need to work and you need to be together, suffer together.
“With our quality if we’re suffering, we can enjoy it too.
“Enjoyment on its own is not good, but if we’re suffering too, it can be good.”
Ozil captained Arsenal on Monday, and while Emery was pleased with the German’s leadership he insists there is no need to install the 30-year-old as the Gunners’ sole skipper.
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“We have very clear captains,” said Emery.
“I think he can play every match with this commitment, behaviour and quality whether he’s captain or not.
“We want to demand this from him and from every player in every match.”
Arsenal moved fourth thanks to their victory, with Aubameyang claiming a three-minute brace after being brought on as a substitute.
Emery again downplayed any notion of the Gunners seeking out a Premier League title chase and insisted they will purely focus on the short term.
“I think we need to continue with calm, each match is a big chance to continue in our way,” said Emery.
“It was very important to win today, because Leicester are close to us.
“We are looking at who is in front of us, like Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea.
“But it’s important for us to think about that at the end.
“The important thing is the next match, the Europa League on Thursday (against Sporting Lisbon), and Crystal Palace on Sunday.
“And we have to keep working to improve in our way and tactically, to find the best performance.”