LONDON--Arsene Wenger called on Mesut Ozil to keep scoring after the German playmaker returned to give Arsenal a much-needed spark in their 3-1 win at Watford on Saturday.
Ozil made his first start of the season and immediately made the Gunners look much sharper in attack as Wenger's team earned their first victory of the Premier League campaign. He capped his performance by putting Arsenal 3-0 up in the first half after meeting a pinpoint cross from Alexis Sanchez in the box.
While it's normally Ozil who is the provider of those types of assists, Wenger said he wants more goals from the German star.
"I think what we have seen from him today is what we want from him," Wenger said. "To give assists but as well to score goals. So I'm very happy that he scored today because that's what he has to add to his game."
Ozil's presence also seemed to spark Sanchez, who looked much more at home in his role as a central striker than in Arsenal's first two games, a 4-3 loss to Liverpool and a 0-0 draw at Leicester. Ozil was rested for the first game and then came on in the second half against Leicester, having returned late after the European Championship.
Sanchez earned the penalty that put Arsenal ahead, then scored the second himself before setting up Ozil for the third.
And Wenger said it was obvious that Ozil gave the whole team a lift.
"Especially in the first half. In the second half he dropped physically. But of course we need him," Wenger said.
Wenger also praised Rob Holding again after another composed performance from the 20-year-old centre-back. Arsenal are on the verge of signing Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi to bring in a more experienced option after injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista, but Wenger said Holding will still be fighting for a place in the team.
"He had to play under huge pressure again," Wenger said. "It's not easy, and it shows some great potential. I am convinced he will give a fight to all the centre-backs."
With Ozil back in the playmaker role, Wenger dropped Santi Cazorla back into a deeper central position next to new signing Granit Xhaka -- a partnership that could become the cornerstone of the Gunners' midfield this season. And Wenger said Xhaka is already showing his qualities as a deep-lying playmaker.
"Xhaka has a good touch in the game, and he's calm, his passing is effective," Wenger said. "He is a left-footer as well, so he can find Theo [Walcott] on the opposite side sometimes. He has a good long ball, and he wants the ball. And he has some physical strength in his locker. He is adapting very quickly."
The win gives Arsenal a much-needed boost going into the international break, but Wenger lamented the fact that he has to release some of his players again just as they are regaining fitness. Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud have also been eased back into action after France's run to the Euro 2016 final, with Giroud having made just one substitute appearance so far.
"We paid a heavy price in our first game because we were not ready, we did not have the players back," Wenger said. "Now Mesut is nearly there, not completely, but he just goes [away] again. For us, the break is not welcome."
Walter Mazzarri is still waiting for his first win as Watford boss having lost three out of four games in all competitions since his summer appointment.
But the Italian was pleased with his side's second-half response and praised his quartet of debutants.
"The first half was all Arsenal but the second half was all for us. We played a good game," he said. "There were a few things that went against us. We lost two main players today so the rest of the team was not quite ready for that situation.
"We are working and the results will come. In the second half we played good football and we should have scored more.
"[Petr] Cech was amazing and made some great saves. [Roberto] Pereyra, [Daryl] Janmaat, [Younes] Kaboul and [Isaac] Success all came in and did very well."
