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Arsenal will soon seen the best of club-record signing Mesut Ozil, according to manager Arsene Wenger.

The £42.5million deadline-day arrival from Real Madrid has returned somewhat subdued performances in recent weeks, and was rested by Germany for their internationals against Italy and then England at Wembley following a minor virus.

Nevertheless, Ozil will again be at the heart of the Arsenal team when they tackle Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday night, where victory could see them qualify for the knockout stages.

Wenger has every confidence the 25-year-old's quality will come through what has been a testing period of transition.

``First of all, Ozil is a hugely talented player,'' said Wenger.

``He has just arrived here three months ago and overall did not have the best of preparations for the (Premier) League.

``Ozil is a young player, 25 years old so of course there is a lot of room for improvement for him.''

Wenger maintains there is no extra special demands placed on the German playmaker, who arrived in a wave of publicity and scored a superb first goal for his new club in the 2-0 Champions League win over Napoli on October 1.

``We have plenty of players who can take the ball and play, but because he plays in the central part of the pitch the ball goes through him,'' Wenger said.

``However, we don't put any special responsibility on him. Maybe he feels a bit more pressure to do that.

``But we just want the game to be played like we see it and do not put any special responsibility on him because everybody in our team can deliver great balls.''

The Premier League leaders are well placed to progress through to the last 16 in Europe following their 1-0 smash-and-grab raid on Borussia Dortmund earlier this month.

Should Dortmund draw at home with second-placed Napoli and the Gunners beat Marseille, then it would put the English side through and mean last season's Champions League runners-up would have to be content with dropping down into the Europa League.

That would leave Arsenal to then fight it out with Napoli to secure top spot and with it seeding for the knockout stage.

``We know that tomorrow is a very big game in that final stage of the qualifiers. We have an opportunity to do it at home,'' said Wenger, who will have midfielder Mathieu Flamini back from suspension.

``You say 12 points may not be enough, it is true, but it might as well be enough and maybe already tomorrow, so let's get the 12 points.''

Any hope of Marseille extending their own European campaign disappeared following a fourth-straight Group F defeat in Napoli, where they went down 3-2 on matchday four.

Wenger, though, maintains their European results to do not tell the whole story for Elie Baup's team.

``They have quality, they are in a better period at the moment because they won their last two games and that makes them a dangerous team to play against,'' the Arsenal manager said.

``The quality of our concentration and focus will be vital tomorrow.''
Baup has no doubts Arsenal can make an impact in the Champions League this season.

``In my mind Arsenal is a team which has both ability, but also a very balanced side,'' he said.

``This is also a team which, when it has difficult moments, they can manage it very well and then be decisive.

``Arsenal are an extremely strong side in these competitions, and have made further improvements since Mesut Ozil signed.''

Baup added: ``They are the best side in our group and are a team which is going to qualify.

``When you get to the last 16 and the quarter-finals, the teams are all very close together.

``However, this season Arsenal have an undeniable attacking quality. They also have a lot of French players who are really improving, like Olivier Giroud who is a top-quality goalscorer.

``They have great technical players and have a great spirit.''


ends

Chelsea will destroy Southampton [size=30pt]LIKE[/size]

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho expects Mauricio Pochettino's Southampton to stay true to their style and not to park the bus at Stamford Bridge.

Saints have been the revelation of the Barclays Premier League season with Pochettino at the helm and a free-flowing style which is at odds with many teams who travel to Stamford Bridge and adopt a defensive approach.

"I'm expecting them to play according to their identity," Mourinho said.

"Do we allow them to do that? Do we allow them to play comfortably, the way they like to do it? That's another point.

"But in their minds, I think they'll try to be what they are."

Mourinho dismissed his personal record against Pochettino while the pair were in Spain.

Mourinho's Real Madrid and Pochettino's Espanyol met four times, with the Portuguese's teams winning on each occasion.

"For the good and for the bad, I don't believe in this," Mourinho said.

"My record against him was me as a Real Madrid manager and him as an Espanyol manager.

"If the record was in his favour, it would be a big surprise. For the record to be in favour of a Real Madrid manager is normal.

"He's a very good manager and is doing very well."

When Pochettino replaced Nigel Adkins, it was an unpopular decision, but the former Argentina defender has taken Saints to another level.

Buying well has been key to their progress this term, according to Mourinho.

"When you finish your first season you are much better prepared to understand the needs and the profile of your purchases," Mourinho added.

"He had the possibility this summer to buy adapted to his needs and this is important. He chose well.

"The team is very compact, is very solid and they are doing very, very well.

"Can they finish top four? I think it's very difficult, because it will be difficult for the six title contenders to finish in the top four.

"Imagine for the others that come behind.

"But the team is very, very good and for sure they will have a very good season and for sure the match on Sunday will be a difficult match for us.

"Normally it would be even more difficult for them."

Chelsea needed a controversial penalty to avoid defeat - and extend Mourinho's 66-match unbeaten home run in the Premier League - against West Brom in their most recent home match before beating West Ham last Saturday and losing at Basle in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Saints clash is the first of nine in December for the Blues, with matches away to Sunderland and to Stoke following in the next week.

"I have to think about the week, not just about the match," Mourinho added.

"Of course this is the most important one because it's the next one.

"I have conditions to make rotation and to put fresh legs and fresh blood from match to match, especially in some positions."

Mourinho will be without striker Samuel Eto'o, who is expected to be out for two weeks with a groin injury. The Cameroon forward sustained the grade one tear in Tuesday night's Champions League loss at Basle and was replaced by Fernando Torres, who made his return from an adductor injury and could start.

The game could come too soon for defender David Luiz despite his return to training from a knee injury.

Pochettino counts Mourinho as a close friend and a mentor but is determined to improve his head-to-head record against the Portuguese.

Whilst Mourinho was in charge of former club Real Madrid he came across Pochettino's Espanyol side on four occasions and enjoyed four wins - seeing his side score 13 goals and keep a clean sheet in every match.

Pochettino is looking forward to pitting his wits against the so-called 'Special One' once again.

''My relationship with Jose is excellent,'' said the Argentinian.

''We get along very well. I have a great admiration and respect for him as a football manager and as a person and it will be great to say hello to him on Sunday and to have the game against him.

''I'm happy to be facing Jose Mourinho in England, and not in Spain. It's clear that you learn from everyone, but I've learnt a lot from Jose.

''I think he's one of the best managers in football history. His record speaks for itself. We have a very good relationship, but at the same time while before and after the games we will be friends, during the full 90 minutes we're not going to be friends, we're just going to be rivals, opponents.''

Saints have been drawing the plaudits following a strong start to the current campaign but were beaten at the home of league-leaders Arsenal last weekend.

Olivier Giroud bagged a brace for the Gunners but Southampton played a part in their own downfall as goalkeeper Artur Boruc dallied on the ball before being robbed by the France forward for the opener.

CONTINUE READING FROM DOWN

Jose Mourinho wants Chelsea to secure their Champions League progression at Basle on Tuesday night before turning their focus on the hectic festive schedule which is ``only for the braves''.

Chelsea need a point to advance but a fourth straight win, following the opening loss at home to Basle, would secure top spot in Group E ahead of the final encounter with Steaua Bucharest on December 11.

In comments reminiscent of his first spell - when Mourinho sported a crew-cut and memorably stated ``I am ready for the war'' - the self-proclaimed Special One stated his desire to beat Basle and then focus on eight domestic fixtures in December, seven of them in the Barclays Premier League.

``It's a period I like,'' said Mourinho, again sporting a short haircut.

``It's a period where I think only the braves can survive because it's hard.

``We go into the Christmas period and the accumulation of matches is so high, we don't do it as a normal thing, we do it as a special group with a special mentality, enjoying the situation, forgetting we don't have a Christmas (break) like the Spanish, Italian and German players. We don't have that.

``But we have the pleasure of playing a period that's only for the braves. I like that very, very much.

``I enjoyed it when I was in England and I missed it when I was in Spain and Italy. Now I'm back I want to enjoy it, I want the players to enjoy it, and we need a special mentality to cope with that situation.

``Nine matches and one of them is the match against Steaua. That's our motivation for tomorrow, to try to kill the situation in the group phase and give us a little bit of space in December; instead of having nine real, competitive matches, we only have eight.''

Fernando Torres is fit to return against Basle from an adductor injury which has seen him miss the last three matches but defender David Luiz did not travel due to a knee problem.

Juan Mata, the Blues' player of the year in each of the last two seasons, has found opportunities limited this term and will get his chance in December.

``He (Mata) deserves to play but I can't start with more than 11,'' added Mourinho, who pointed out Germany's Andre Schurrle, Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne and Willian of Brazil have also had limited chances.

Mourinho insists the onus at St Jakob Park is on Basle, who must match Schalke's result with Steaua and beat the Germans next month to advance.

``They are under pressure and we are not,'' Mourinho said.

``We can finish the job to qualify and Basle, even if they win tomorrow, have to play a last final at Gelsenkirchen.

``For them, the situation is difficult. This shows clearly that, after the first match, we did our job and they didn't do theirs.

``This Chelsea is better than the Chelsea that played at Stamford Bridge. Hopefully we can continue the good run we've had in the Champions League and finish the job tomorrow.''

Basle are looking to repeat their giant-killing act against English opposition.

Aside from their win at Stamford Bridge in September, the Swiss side also ended Manchester United's Champions League campaign prematurely in 2011/12, the season Chelsea went on to win the European Cup, with a 2-1 victory in the final group contest at St Jakob Park.

Forward Fabian Frei said: ``It's clear our first target is third place at the end of this group stage, but we will try to reach second place as well.

``Tomorrow will be a very decisive game for us, but our first target is to get this one point, then we're sure of third position.

``Then we have this final game against Schalke, which would be great for us.

``I remember two years ago against Manchester United here and we had this final game and we won.''


ends

1oracle: So you mean Kudirat Abiola hired the people who killed her? Or Dora Akunyili also hired those who fired at her and missed?

This' quite different.

This man should just STFU

Without being told, we all know he didn't win the Election.

Why is Wike always like this?? He condemned it over nothing. Do the needful and let the students go back to their various schools.

theoctopus1: On the basis that he is trivializing the death threat on a fellow human being just because of partisan and tribal hatred. Very sad disposition and mindset

So you had to call him a fool, just because of Stealer Oduah?? Not good

theoctopus1: Yes I think you are a foool!

On what basis?? Stop being a nitwit.

Below is a link to another new Alt Moniker

https://www.nairaland.com/2wilywily

That's a good development! Encouraging the widows/widowers.

Amaechi, who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Mr. Tony Okorocha, with reporters in Abuja on Monday, accused a serving minister from the region as being behind the said posters.

He decried the antics of the minister, which he said was aimed at making him (the minister) gain undeserved favour from the President.

Wike in action! His plans won't work out. Instead of him to face his ministry, he's busy disturbing Amaechi.

Has he settled his case in Aso Rock?? If NO, he should just STFU

It's unfair na! Why did she hire people to come and do something to cover up her sinful nature?? This reminds me of a Governorship candidate in Anambra who kidnapped himself just to be popular.

Odikwa! Serious!

Another "Act of God".

omanzo02: tyhjm
If he drinks ogogoro I applaud his courage and patriotism for a national choice, every president has protocol officers around him that keep an eye on everything the president does, and he is always restricted to drink socially. This is a fact.

Even if he wants to drink, it shouldn't be Ogogoro.

Skillbobralph: Lolz. Working in which state. We are tired of that man and his propaganda we people of Edo state are sick and tired of him except his party agents. All works abandon and no single project going on only active in media and making noise everywhere both relevant and irrelevant

who are the WE you're talking about??

Anyways, Let's wait till proper dry seeason, before we jusge. What did Lucky do in his 8yrs tenure??

omanzo02: If improve on and protected by law, a healthy and legally recommended alcohol content can be set, that is not a problem.

If drinking ogogoro would solve Nigeria's problem, then he should continue drinking it.

By the time it divides your liver, that's when you'll demote it, not only promote.

payless: Moderators,

The link below needs its topic amended. I don't know why someone would just post a misleading topic in order to get attention of the house.

Since9gerian has been doing this forever and keeps getting away with it. Does the topic in the link fits the information in the in the link?

https://www.nairaland.com/1530386/threat-make-nigeria-ungovernable-yet

The guy is an attention seeker. He's always seeking attention with his misleading Topic Subject

EGift, do you know who you are challenging?? He's a Knight of my church (Anglican Communion), so he might probably know this before.

saint047: i tink u are an edo man from the north,no reasonable edo man that knows dat the hon minister of works is from edo wil open his mouth to vomit dat dat nonsense u just vomit.

Guy STFU & stop that sheeet. Do you not know that Oshiomole is working?? If yes, why do you criticize him??

Alfa Seltzer: how many months to find one moderator?

36months (3yrs)

Most of these politicians are Novemberites.. HBD Man

fabulous4u: a famous dumbo

If calling me a famous Dumbo would solve your problem, then you can continue

musiwa112: greeting to a special mom from musiwa.

happy birthday to you..

Must your name be written down??

I don't want to wish you what PEJ wished GEJ on his Birthday.

HBD Ma

the warrior72: U mean half-caste or imported Edo?

A renowned Edolite

Promhize: Wrong? You are even more dumb than I thought.

You have never heard of the word Omission

Guy! I won't embark on thread derailment with you.