HENRIKH’ INSTANT H
Wenger delight at his new magician
ARSENE WENGER believes Henrikh Mkhitaryan has got his mojo back after destroying dreadful Everton.
Wenger had been worried about the Armenia star’s mental state after his nightmare spell at Manchester United, spent mostly on the bench.
But Mkhitaryan was a revelation on his full Arsenal debut, running the show and setting up three goals.
Aaron Ramsey’s hat-trick plus strikes from Laurent Koscielny and £60m man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sunk the sorry Toffees.
But it was Mkhitaryan who shone brightest as Arsenal bounced back in style from their shock defeat to struggling Swansea.
Wenger said: “I think he enjoyed it. I met Mkhitaryan before he came here because I always liked his game.
“He’s a player completely focused on football and comes from a country where you need special character to become a great football player.
“So you have to really love it – and that’s why he looks happy to play football, because he just loves it.”
Mkhitaryan was certainly loving it in this one as a new-look Everton back-three, containing deadline day signing Eliaquim Mangala, conceded three goals in the first 20 minutes.
And there were already signs he is renewing the telepathic understanding he used to enjoy with his former Borussia Dortmund teammate Aubameyang.
The pair also linked up well with Mesut Ozil, who was involved in two of the goals.
Arsenal had Alexandre Lacazette on the bench and Hector Bellerin reckons there may not be a better forward line in English football. He said: “When you see the players we have up front and the players on the bench who can come on, you’re thinking of the creativity and the electricity they bring into the team. “It is something very rare to find in any other team. Of course you get a lot of creative from Mkhi. You saw the assists and how he comes inside and links up play. Everyone who watches football knows what an outstanding player he is.
“Auba, we know about his finishing inside the box and his pace. That’s what they will bring to the team and they showed it.
“When they had a few seasons together at Dortmund they did really well together. In training already we can see how well they understand each other. It’s great to have such a partnership.”
Dominic Calvert-Lewin got Everton a consolation but boss Sam Allardyce branded them “crap” and admitted he is already thinking about next season.
“Let’s write this season off as quick as we can by staying in the Premier League and then sort it out for the start of next season,” said Allardyce.
“That’s the thing I can try to do. If we can get safe quick and start performing again, then try to finish in the top half and not put any pressure on yourself by slipping down the table.”
Mangala, who quit a title race for a relegation battle in moving on loan from Manchester City, said: “It’s a different situation but you have to adapt. We will do better.
“The challenge is going to be difficult but I think we can finish in front of Leicester and Burnley and that will be a good end to the season.”