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Three key Arsenal players who must improve their level of performance

Laurent Koscielny recently urged the Arsenal players to step up their efforts for Arsene Wenger, as reported by , and these comments have come after a pretty poor patch for the Gunners.

The French centre-back said: “We’re in a complicated situation but it’s not only his responsibility. It’s us, on the pitch, who have to do more.”

With these comments coming during the international break, The Boot Room takes a look at three Arsenal players that “need to do more” upon their return to club football.

Mesut Ozil

Last year’s level of performance, with which Mesut Ozil helped lead Arsenal to a second-place Premier League finish, was always going to be hard to match. However, even the most supportive of Ozil fans couldn’t have forecasted the drastic loss of form the former Real Madrid man has suffered this season.

The 28-year-old created 144 chances last term and finished atop of the Premier League assists chart, with 19 to his name. He was also Arsenal’s third top scorer. This was a campaign in which he gained the fans backing, after a poor showing the season before.

Yet, it seems that this form was not permanent, as 2016/17 has shown. While Ozil is only one goal short of matching last season’s total of six, the difference in his chance creation is huge. For context, the German has currently only created 59 chances and has just four assists to his name.

His form has been one of the main causes of Arsenal’s struggle and fans will hope he can improve before the end of the season to ensure the Gunners gain a top four finish.

Hector Bellerin

The Spaniard started the season promisingly but a stark change in performance level has left fans questioning him, and more specifically, his haircut, as reported by .

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Bellerin set up five goals last season and has only created two so far this season. His impressive attacking support has disappeared recently and it has left the Gunners struggling, having only scored four in their last five games.

He also intercepted the ball 66 times last season, something that helped the Gunners break away fast, yet this campaign he has only stolen the ball 32 times, resulting in fewer counter-attacking opportunities for the London outfit.

Petr Cech

The Chelsea legend, who joined Arsenal as opposed to playing as a number two behind Thibaut Courtois, had a wonderful campaign last season, keeping 16 clean sheets – a record of just under one every two games.

Yet with only 11 games to go this season, Cech has only kept eight clean sheets and is under serious pressure. A mistake in the game against his former side, in which he gifted Cesc Fabregas a goal, highlighted his woes.

David Ospina has been chosen for big games recently and Cech may now be the second choice at Arsenal. The experienced shot-stopper hasn’t missed a Premier League game yet this season but could soon be on the bench if he doesn’t improve.

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