Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has sent a message to Mikel Arteta after his former team-mate returned as manager of the club.
Arteta was finally confirmed as the man to replace Unai Emery after signing a three-and-a-half year deal at the Emirates.
The move comes as welcome news to Ozil after finding himself out of favour under Emery as he hopes for a fresh start in north London.
And he appeared to welcome the news of the new appointment, sharing a picture of the pair during Arteta’s playing days at Arsenal within moments of his appointment being confirmed.
“Welcome back to the Arsenal family,” he wrote, the first Arsenal player to react to the news of Arteta’s return.
(Image: Getty Images)
Ozil has been linked with a move away with claims Fenerbahce chiefs travelled to London to discuss a January loan deal.
But Arteta is set to run the rule over his squad when he begins taking training on Monday after watching their clash with former club Everton on Saturday from the stands.
Despite being in and out of the side, Ozil is viewed as a senior member of the Arsenal dressing room as the club’s highest earner – something Arteta has been warned he must deal with by former Chelsea forward Tony Cascarino.
“The biggest challenge he will face is dealing with the senior players,” Cascarino told The Times .
“I remember when Ron Atkinson came into Aston Villa, he said to me immediately: ‘I have agreed a fee with Celtic for you.’
“That is how Arteta should approach it, starting with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, David Luiz, Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi.”
Ozil will be hoping Arteta ignores that advice and gives him a chance to impress having spent time together as team-mates at the club.
Arteta’s quick response to his appointment was matched by Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte, who shared a picture laughing with his former coach and wrote: “Thank for all Mikel”.
