Belfast Telegraph Online
February 4, 2018 Sunday 10:30 PM GMT
Wenger salute for single-minded Henrikh Mkhitaryan as Arsenal eye bright future
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also starred alongside hat-trick hero Aaron Ramsey.
Arsene Wenger was delighted to finally see Henrikh Mkhitaryan in an
Arsenal shirt as the Armenia international lit up the Emirates
Stadium.
Mkhitaryan set up three goals as he arguably even outshone hat-trick
hero Aaron Ramsey with the Gunners running riot against Everton with a
5-1 victory.
The former Manchester United man, who joined in January in a swap deal
for Alexis Sanchez, set up Ramsey in the opening six minutes before
teeing up debutant Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and later laying on a
pass for Ramsey to sweep home for his treble.
Wenger salute for single-minded Henrikh Mkhitaryan as Arsenal eye
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Laurent Koscielny also scored in Saturday's emphatic response from
Wenger's side following their shock defeat at Swansea four days
earlier.
Ramsey, Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil and Mkhitaryan all looked sharp and
Wenger savoured the all-round display of his new-look attack.
He said: "When you have new players it gives always a little positive
swing, and it wakes everybody up as well, because there's suddenly
competition so they have to live with that as well.
"Overall, I think as well we have a game based on team spirit so that
kind of acceptance is very important and when they show on a football
field that they accept our game, they are even easier to integrate
into the team.
"I've been such a long time in football, but one part as well is just
purely a football lover. Your main target is just to get the players
to enjoy the game they play, to share it with the fans, so when you
have that positive experience it's great for you.
"Yes, pure enjoyment, I love that the team plays, and my regret is
that it doesn't last for 90 minutes unfortunately."
Wenger salute for single-minded Henrikh Mkhitaryan as Arsenal eye
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Mkhitaryan was singled out for praise by Wenger, who finally landed
the man he attempted to sign from Borussia Dortmund before he opted to
join United.
"I met Mkhitaryan before, before he came here, because I always liked
his game but he's a player completely focused on football, dedicated
totally to the game," Wenger said.
"He comes from a country where you need special character to become a
great football player, so you have to really to love it, and that's
why he looks happy to play football because he just loves it."
Arsenal fans were also in good spirits after Ozil signed a new
contract, ending speculation over his future.
The Germany World Cup winner had been linked with a move away from the
club as his previous contract was due to expire this summer.
His commitment was welcomed inside the Emirates Stadium on Saturday
but defender Hector Bellerin always expected Ozil to remain.
Wenger salute for single-minded Henrikh Mkhitaryan as Arsenal eye
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"Everyone in the training ground, everyone in the team, knew he was
going to stay," Bellerin said.
"He is a guy that loves London, loves Arsenal and he always gets
really angry when things don't go well, so you know how much it means
for him to win or lose for this club.
"It is as exciting as a new signing. To have a player with his
qualities and all he brings to the team to sign for a few more years,
it is really exciting for Arsenal and for the fans."
