Having had to watch Alexis Sanchez draw plaudits from all quarters, the club-record signing stepped up in his absence to stake a claim heading into the final months of the season.

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LONDON - Arsene Wenger was hailed following Arsenal 's 2-0 win over Manchester City after a tactical shift brushed the Premier League champion aside. It was a 'new dawn' for the Gunners. So, then, where was club-record signing and World Cup winner Mesut Ozil ? An unused substitute on the bench, that's where.Ozil has, for quite some time, failed to live up to his 42 million pound billing while others have stepped up in his place. Alexis Sanchez has been the superstar signing Arsenal fans had hoped Ozil would be, scoring 18 goals already this season. While the Chilean's stock has soared week on week, the German's has faded into the background while his rehabilitation from injury continued.But Ozil was back on Sunday, handed his first league start since a disastrous showing - along with the majority of his teammates - in a 2-0 loss to Chelsea in October. Wenger has praised Ozil's desire to get back to playing, detailing his "hunger" in recent weeks.He started against Brighton in the FA Cup, and scored, desperate to stake his claim and he was again rewarded against Villa. It was a stronger Ozil, a leaner Ozil and looking on at the Emirates on Sunday, the German is a noticeably more intimidating presence.Walcott said after the game: "Mesut has worked tremendously hard since coming back from injury, like myself. He showed it on the pitch today. It's not going to happen overnight, but it has for him! In two games since coming back he's got two goals."Not just that, his whole general play - interchanging with players and looking for the balls in behind, his touch is absolutely fantastic and [it was] a fantastic finish."It all clicked for Ozil on Sunday. From the word go, his deft flick to free Giroud for the first goal was an example of the "world class" ability Wenger spoke of upon signing him 18 months ago. His goal, too, was impressive as he calmly slotted into the bottom corner to put the Gunners two up. But it hasn't always been like this. For so long Ozil has looked out-of-sorts in England and, to be frank, utterly upstaged by his teammates.Ozil insisted earlier in the season that he had "nothing to prove" to Arsenal, hitting back at critics who made him one of the scapegoats as the club endured a worst ever start to a Premier League season - but if Sunday's showing is anything to go by, he doesn't necessarily believe that.Perhaps even more promising and appealing to Arsenal fans was the way Ozil and Santi Cazorla complimented each other. Previously, Cazorla has been shuffled around to accommodate the expensive German - pushed out wide to allow the £42 million man free reign.Not on Sunday though. It was roles reversed and Arsenal ran riot, even without the season's shining light, Sanchez. Both scored, both assisted for a teammate - Cazorla with two - and both were the most effective in attack - topping Opta's charts for touches, successful passes and chances created, among many others.The last time Ozil started on the wing it was the 2-0 loss to Chelsea and the German's deficiencies in defense were exposed. But now, under this 'new dawn' with Francis Coquelin providing added steel and Aaron Ramsey in a more withdrawn role, could Arsenal's talented German finally deliver on a consistent basis?In typical fashion, Wenger was full of praise for Ozil after the game but with an added word of warning, telling reporters: "He still lacks a competitive edge and sharpness but the quality of his game was exceptional."Either way, Ozil started February - a month which also includes the north London derby against top-four rival Tottenham and an all-important Champions League last-16 clash with Monaco - with a performance finally worthy of note. Not bad timing, for player and team alike.