Four Arsenal players who need to step up their game

It's been a rough start for Arsenal under Unai Emery's first term as manager. The new boss walked into the Emirates with new ideas and a whole new football philosophy and has been attempting to employ them within the squad for weeks.

The former Sevilla and Paris Saint Germain boss saw two defeats in his first three games as Gunners boss and one maiden win against West Ham last weekend.

Emery appears to favour his team playing out from the back and this has understandably caused problems in the squad. It did not help that their first game of the season was against champions Manchester City.

A number of players have been under the scanner both by Emery and fans for their need to step up their game and to adapt to the head coach’s new style of play. Here's a look at the four Arsenal players who need to step up their game:

#1 Mesut Ozil

Emery is yet to figure out how to deploy his highest-paid player. The German has struggled in his first two games of the season having been made to play in two different positions.

Ozil played on the right wing against the champions and he was deployed in his preferred No.10 role against London rivals Chelsea only to be withdrawn in the second half.

The German still failed to influence the game leading to a lot of criticism by pundits and fans alike. Emery himself spoke of the need for him to ‘work hard’ during matches.

Emery's plans for Ozil is in stark contrast to those of Wenger's. Under Wenger, Ozil's place in the starting XI was almost always assured and he hardly had to give himself to defensive responsibilities.

Ozil, one of Emery's five team captains, is likely to play against Cardiff City this Sunday in a game that will give him the chance to redeem himself. Whether the former Real Madrid man will adapt to Emery's style of play remains to be seen.

#2 Granit Xhaka

It's no surprise that Granit Xhaka was replaced in both of the opening games this season. His hollow performances made way for critics and fans calling for new signing Lucas Torreira to start.

That he is also one of the five captains that Emery has assigned for the team makes him even more liable to criticism: it has been argued that as captain, Xhaka should be exercising more responsibility and control rather than recklessness in the midfield.

Despite his performances, the Swiss international has been a mainstay in the squad since he was signed and appears to have been given the confidence in the form of a new contract under Emery.

Xhaka has a lot to prove especially when 19-year-old Matteo Guendouzi's impressive performances have completely overshadowed his own. A new and capable signing in the form of Lucas Torreira should also serve as a reminder of the massive threat that his place in the starting XI is in.

#3 Shkodran Mustafi

Shkodran Mustafi is not the most popular player among Arsenal fans and is yet to convince them of his place in the squad. The German has failed to impress with several bouts of questionable defending since arriving from Valencia in 2016.

Despite speculation of his leaving this summer, the centre-back remained in north London and even started the opening games of the season next to new signing Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

Having cemented his place as a centre-back alongside Sokratis in the absence of Koscielny, this is the ideal opportunity for Mustafi to prove his worth. Improved ball distribution paired with his reading of the game will go a long way at proving he is suited to the game Emery wants his team to play.

#4 Hector Bellerin

The overall reaction to Bellerin's performances this season so far has been mixed. While Bellerin has been instrumental in Arsenal's attack, he did make a number of crucial positional errors in the first two games.

Out of all the players, Bellerin looks to be the most suited to play Emery's style of football. The reason the former Barcelona man made the list is because he is a modern-day defender who could really progress under Emery’s tutelage and tactical changes. However, he still has a lot to prove in a team that has had a torrid defence in the last few years.

The defender must maintain Arsenal's attacking and ball-possessive mentality while also paying attention to defensive responsibilities.

Bellerin must also keep in mind that his place in the starting XI could still be under threat especially after the arrival of Stephan Lichtsteiner, a right back with years of experience and a winning record.