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Arsenal Football Club has seen a turnaround in the mood surrounding the club, following a period of sustained success under new manager Unai Emery. The Spaniard took over at the start of this season after Arsene Wenger departed the Emirates after a 22-year association with the North London Club.
The task at hand was supposed to be one that should've proved overwhelming for the man who hasn't endured the fierce spotlight as his predecessor did. And following two straight losses in his first two games in charge, it seemed the task was only going to get harder.
However, since the defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea, The Gunners have gone on to put together a 15 game unbeaten streak, including 11 victories on the bounce to start that run.
An impressive fightback against the in-form Liverpool side showed signs of the resurgence in Emery's squad this season, epitomised by these 5 players.
#5 Shkodran Mustafi
The German had a dismal final campaign under Arsene Wenger last season, and was constantly found wanting at the back or at fault for unforgivable errors that he couldn't seem to stamp out of his game.
In the absence of the club captain and the heart of the Arsenal's defence, Laurent Koscielny, and the niggling injuries that have kept Sokratis out of contention for a permanent starting position, Emery has looked to the pairing of Mustafi and Rob Holding to do the bulk of the defensive work in the back-line.
Nacho Monreal, who has deputised at centre-back before, is also out with a long-term injury, making Mustafi first in the pecking order.
And finally, the centre-back seems to be repaying the faith the club has shown in him. He has been terrific in dealing with aerial balls in his own penalty box, and has been immaculate in covering and sweeping up at the back for his side. He has also seemingly put his blunders behind him, or so the Arsenal faithful hope.
#4 Alex Iwobi
The changing nature of the squad is best brought out in the fact that the youngster is now one of the longest-serving players at the club.
Iwobi was one of Arsene Wenger's prodigies, and the Frenchman showed immense faith in the youngster by making him a regular with the starting team for the last couple of seasons.
However, the feeling has always been that the Nigerian has failed to live up to the expectations of the fans and the management, failing to come up with telling passes or clinical finishes when the opportunities came.
However, under new management, the winger has found himself starting games more often than not, and has also been vital in some of the goals scored by his side this season, none more so than when he found the telling pass for Lacazette to equalise for Arsenal against Liverpool, and keep their unbeaten run alive.
#3 Alexandre Lacazette
The French international striker will be wondering what it is going to take for him to make it into the World Cup winning national side after he was once again snubbed in favour of Olivier Giroud who has scored just one goal this season, that too in an Europa League tie.
Lacazette's argument isn't without merit, as he has consistently shown signs of improvement under new management at Arsenal, with Unai Emery choosing to start him ahead of the record-transfer Aubameyang.
Arsenal fans have been lucky to witness some fine goals from the striker this season. He has an uncanny habit of finding the back of the net from tight-angles and in tight situations for his side. He has found the net 6 times already, while also setting up another 4.
All stats via transfermarkt
#2 Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil has been in the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. His public falling out with the DFB has attracted a lot of attention, and has taken away from his performances for Arsenal on the field.
More so, ever since Unai Emery came along.
The German World Cup winner was rumoured to be in hot water with the manager, with the Spaniard repeatedly bringing him off early in the second half of games, and the former giving training sessions a miss.
However, the man-management style of Emery is paying dividends now as Mesut Ozil has found a purple patch of form, and has been at his destructive best for The Gunners this season, none more so that in the game against Leicester City where he eviscerated the opposition with one of the most memorable performances by any Arsenal player in the Premier League.
#1 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
The Gabonese international was brought in last summer in a record-breaking transfer for the North London side, and was expected to get down to business right away if he was to give his then-manager Arsene Wenger any chance of survival.
Unfortunately for both of them, it wasn't the case, and the striker's rather tame start to his career in England spelt doom for his former manager.
Under new management, the striker - despite not being a firm starting favourite has managed to find the back of the net for fun so far this season. The former Dortmund man has been in red-hot form this season, having already bagged 9 goals in just 15 games so far this season.
His goal-scoring prowess is only amplified by the fact that he has only played the full 90 minutes on 2 occasions, scoring 2 braces in games he came off the bench. Stellar showing from the Arsenal forward, and the manager and fans will be hoping for many more to come.
