Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi given clear example to follow if they want Arsenal futures

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If Mesut Ozil or Matteo Guendouzi are looking at how to get back into Mikel Arteta’s plans at Arsenal, then they need not look much further than Dani Ceballos.

Granit Xhaka has rightly been hailed as the club’s renaissance man after his personal comeback at the Emirates this season, with the Swiss coming up huge in the FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester City at the weekend.

And on Monday, Arteta pointed towards Xhaka, in light of his recent resurgence, as an example to Guendouzi and Ozil if the pair want to continue their careers at the club.

“The challenge with Granit was to convince him that there was still a place for him here – that I had big belief in him and that things can turn around pretty quickly in this industry,” said Arteta.

“He had to send the right messages. First of all, he had to believe that he could do it and if that was the case, we were going to support him all the way through.

“I’m really glad to hear and sense the reaction from the fans towards him, I think they can appreciate what he’s done. That’s in the past, there’s a lot of positives to take from difficult situations and we all learn from that.

“He’s a really good example for any player that is in a difficult moment that if you are willing, consistent and really want to do it generally, I think there’s always a way back.”

© AFP via Getty Images Xhaka has been lauded by Arteta for his renaissance

Guendouzi hasn’t played since his sending off at Brighton on June 20, with suggestions that his attitude has put him at odds with Arteta, his staff and the club.

Ozil is similarly yet to feature since the Premier League returned to action.

And while Arteta points to Xhaka, it is the Spaniard playing alongside him at the heart of midfield who is the greater reference point.

© PA Ceballos again impressed in the FA Cup semi-final

Injuries meant that the on-loan Real Madrid man was unavailable to Arteta immediately after his arrival.

And upon his return to fitness in January, he remained benched for four of the next five games – not even making the squad in the other.

Then, Arteta held worries over his fitness and whether Ceballos could give him what he required at the heart of midfield.

Was he too flighty? Too slow for the counter attack operating as a No.10? Would he be caught in possession if moved deep? Did he want to dig in and work for the team?

But having used the mid-season trip to Dubai to work on his fitness, showing a willingness to listen, learn and adapt to the methods of the coaching staff, Ceballos has made himself indispensable.

Operating in a No.6 role as part of a double pivot with Xhaka in front of three centre-halves – a position he himself was unsure of to begin with – Ceballos has flourished, while Arteta is now determined to seal a permanent deal for his loan star.

© Tom Jenkins / NMC Pool Ceballos continues to flourish

“Since we came back from Dubai, I have played practically every minute with him,” Ceballos told Sky Sports. “That’s been thanks to him, but also thanks to what I have done and what I have demonstrated on the pitch.

“I told him, ‘Look, I want to show that I can play here.’ I think I have done that.

“The truth is that I worked so hard out there. I trained to my limits and now I have a very high physical level.

“That, combined with the part of my game that the mi­ster likes, which is having the ball and being a protagonist, means I’m now a player who fits into his team.”

© Getty Images Both are on the outside looking in

Ceballos has been instrumental in the side’s recent improvement under Arteta and played a key role in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester City, with a diligent, intelligent midfield display.

For both Guendouzi and Ozil, currently on the outside looking in, he is the ideal reference point.

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