Granit Xhaka once revealed Arsenal star Mikel Arteta let leave for free was ‘the most amazing player’ he has ever played with

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Mikel Arteta has had a number of outstanding footballers at his disposal in his time at Arsenal.

The likes of Bukayo Saka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and William Saliba have all been available to the Spaniard since he was appointed as head coach in 2019.

Alexandre Lacazette has been cited as one of the best Arsenal players in recent times, with the Frenchman’s quality perhaps going under the radar due to the manner in which he declined in his final season in N5.

However, a somewhat surprising name has been mooted as one of the club’s best players in the modern era by Granit Xhaka.

• READ MORE: Granit Xhaka once claimed former Arsenal star would ‘absolutely’ become a football manager – now he plays another sport professionally

Granit Xhaka claimed Mesut Ozil was ‘the most amazing player’ he’s played with

Arteta inherited a poor squad at Arsenal, although some seriously talented players were scattered across the ensemble in 2019.

Saka was developing into one of the best players in the league, while Aubameyang was still an elite goal-scorer and Gabriel Martinelli had just burst onto the scene.

However, Xhaka cited Mesut Ozil as the best player he’d ever played with back in 2018, and the best in the Arsenal squad at the time.

Speaking in an interview with Soccer AM, the midfielder was quick to respond with the German’s name when the question was put to him.

“I don’t have to think long about this one – it’s Mesut,” the Swiss said.

“Mesut Ozil is the most amazing player I have played with to date. He’s a street football. He started playing football on the streets.

“He likes doing things with the ball, he likes having it at his feet and he’s an exceptional footballer.”

Asked what the playmaker was like off the pitch, he said: “Superb. He’s a brilliant guy, very open and always helps other. He’s a lovely guy, friendly, and I can only say positive things about him.”

While this interview predated Arteta’s time in North London, he had the player in his ranks a year later, and ultimately opted not to use him after his first three months in the Emirates dugout.

Ozil eventually left the club for free in January 2021 after falling out of favour with the Arsenal boss.

Mesut Ozil’s Arsenal statistics

At the time of Xhaka’s comments, Ozil was still very much a key figure in Arsenal’s team, although the second half of the 2018/19 campaign was where his decline evidently started.

Arsenal signed the World Cup winner for £42.5 million in the summer of 2013, in what was a statement addition from Arsene Wenger.

He’d go on to score 44 goals and register 71 assists across eight seasons for the Gunners, delivering an astounding year in 2015/16, when he almost broke the Premier League assist record.

Ozil developed a trademark ‘bounce’ finish, with the exceptional technical skill required to pull off such a move emblematic of his quality.

While he didn’t quite win the volume of trophies to cement himself in Arsenal folklore, he’ll be remembered as one of the most entertaining footballers of his generation.