According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal legend Robert Pires believes Mesut Ozil can prove to be the difference between the club coming close to the top three, and them actually winning the Barclays Premier League crown after nearly a decade.

Arsenal have undoubtedly looked the best side in the league so far, and the current league table is testament to that fact. The Gunners stand at the top of the table after the opening seven games, scoring 16 points out of a possible 21; a commendable start for a team that was criticized for not spending enough money in the summer. The transfer window brought a load of criticism on Arsene Wenger, who seemed to frustrate fans by his philosophy of depending on younger players for success. To be fair to the experienced manager, there was little in Wenger’s hands in the recent past, with the club’s executive board refusing to release funds to pay exorbitant market prices for talents. However, the situation got more frustrating for fans, when the club chief executive Ivan Gazidis announced that funds were to be made available to the manager for strengthening of the first team squad. Despite this announcement, Arsenal made no first team signings till deadline day, and the moment finally arrived when the club paid £42.4 million for then Real Madrid midfielder Ozil. The German international has proved to be a game changer for Wenger, who has seen the former Werder Bremen playmaker transform his side into one that scores more often. Not just that, Ozil has also combined well with striker Olivier Giroud, who has suddenly become the club’s top scoring striker.

Pires was part of the Arsenal squad that went on to win the Premier League title unbeaten all season. Wenger will certainly be looking to replicate the similar unbeaten streak for the rest of the campaign, and Pires believes Ozil can prove to be the defining factor behind Arsenal’s Premier League title chase. At the minute, Liverpool are the only club to have matched a similar points tally, and long may that continue for the Arsenal faithful.

Pires said, “It’s now possible for Arsenal to win as the young players have grown up and have more experience.”

“They also have a good mix for Wenger. If you put Ozil in the middle, I think it’s a very good mix for Arsenal.”

Pires knows what he is talking about as he was one of the “invincibles” so let’s hope he is right.