Arsene Wenger was hailed following Arsenal's 2-0 win over Manchester City after a tactical shift brushed the Premier League champions aside. It was a 'new dawn' for the Gunners. So 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 billing while others have stepped up in his place. Alexis Sanchez has been the superstar signing fans had hoped Ozil would be, scoring 18 goals already this season. While the Chilean's stock has soared, 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 individual and team showing 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 and scored against Brighton in the FA Cup, desperate to stake his claim, and 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 on signing him 18 months ago. His goal 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, utterly upstaged by his team-mates.
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 £42m man free reign.
Not on Sunday though. Roles were reversed and Arsenal ran riot, even without leading light Sanchez. Both scored, both assisted for a team-mate - Cazorla with two - and both were the most effective in attack, topping Opta's charts for touches, successful passes and chances created, among others.
The last time Ozil started on the wing it was the 2-0 loss to Chelsea and the German's deficiencies in defence 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 consistently?
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 with a performance finally worthy of note. This is a month which also includes the north London derby against top-four rivals Tottenham and an all-important Champions League last-16 clash with Monaco. Not bad timing, for player and team alike.
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