How Mesut Ozil can earn shock recall to Arsenal squad as Mikel Arteta challenges Nicolas Pepe

Arsenal handed transfer boost

The agent of Dominik Szoboszlai has confirmed Arsenal are keen on signing the midfielder.

The Gunners interest in the player was first revealed by football.london in the summer of 2019, and scouts have been in regular attendance at Red Bull Salzburg games ever since.

There had been talk Szoboszlai would join the club this summer during the extended transfer window, but no move was forthcoming.

The Hungarian international has started the new season in strong form with five goals and eight assists in 12 appearances across all competitions.

Now, per Sport Witness, Matyas Esterhazy – the agent of the attacking midfielder – has been discussing interest in his client.

One topic he touched on were links to AC Milan. The Italian giants were said to be close to securing the player’s signature only for the deal to fall apart.

Esterhazy has confirmed now a deal is unlikely, and it will be seen as a massive boost to Arsenal’s chances of signing him.

Wenger proposes rule change that could help Ozil earn

Arsene Wenger believes creative midfielders such as Mesut Ozil are disappearing from football.

Ozil, 32, was omitted from the Gunners’ Premier League and Europa League squads last month with Mikel Arteta describing it as a football decision.

The decision has caused a lot of discussion and for Wenger, it highlights one of the biggest changes in professional football.

"I would say that the football of the last ten years has mostly "physicalized". We went to the explosive beast and the power," Wenger said, as per So Foot when asked if there's room in modern-day football for players like Ozil.

"At the same time, this increase in physical values created a much more compact defense. The distance between players in the defensive phase has decreased, resulting in less creative space.

"Thus, non-athletes were executed and expelled from the game. Football today suffers from a lack of creativity, artists have disappeared. I think a bit so that they don't die.”

It has seen Wenger pitch a potential rule change.

"Perhaps a slightly more permissive offside law should be enacted to push back the defense again, so that creative players have more room to express themselves."

Arteta sets Pepe challenge ahead of Villa clash

Arteta has demanded Nicolas Pepe improve his consistency after a goalscoring performance in the Europa League victory over Molde.

The Gunners emerged 4-1 winners on Thursday evening, with Pepe collecting a goal and assist after he set-up Joe Willock for the fourth and final goal.

Pepe has produced 23 goals contributions since joining the Gunners last season, but Arteta is keen to see greater consistency from the forward.

"Consistency throughout the game, throughout 90 minutes in every ball, in every action and every time he is on the ball in the final third to make a difference and do it more and more and more," Arteta said.

"The final product has to be better, not just from him, if we want to become a top, top team and score many more goals, it’s something we have to put higher demands on at the moment.

"Today he scored a really good goal, another assist and he can do more. But I think he is on the right path."