Mkhitaryan comes from Armenia where you need a special character to become a great football player

A busy transfer window saw us lose Alexis, Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott but we ended January in a stable position following the arrival of the former Borussia Dortmund team-mates and the announcement of Mesut Ozil’s new long-term contract.

Ozil’s commitment was a shot in the arm for the club and Wenger believes the new signings have lifted spirits and standards.

“Yes, it’s always when you have new players it gives always a little positive swing,” said the boss. “It wakes everybody up as well, because there’s suddenly competition so they have to live with that as well.

“Overall, I think as well we have a game based on team spirit so that kind of acceptance is very important, and when they show on a football field that they accept our game, they are even easier to integrate into the team.

“I met Mkhitaryan before, before he came here, because I liked always his game, but he’s a player completely focused on football, dedicated totally to the game.

“He comes from a country – Armenia – where you need a special character to become a great football player, you have to really to love it, and that’s why he looks happy to play football because he just loves it.”