Hector Bellerin insists Mesut Ozil "makes everything so much easier" for everybody at Arsenal after his man of the match display in the victory over Tottenham.
The German dominated the north London derby to prove his class after criticism that he hides in big games for the Gunners.
But his influence shone through, delivering a superb cross for Shkodran Mustafi's opener, and team-mate Bellerin has sung his praises.
"Mesut is someone who gets a lot of criticism," Bellerin admitted on Arsenal's official website. "But the players who are around him are very happy to have him and play with him.
"He makes things easy for you. People sometimes talk about his body language, but he gives everything for this shirt. The players who play around him know that he makes everything so much easier."
The Spaniard also denies Arsene Wenger's men ever took notice of calls that a power shift was taking place in north London.
"Not at all," Bellerin responded. "You have to talk on the pitch, not in the media. That’s how we do it."
Arsenal will now be expected to produce a similar performance next week at Burnley without the motivation of their local rivalry.