Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger revelled in the club’s 3-0 win at Aston Villa and believes his men will only get stronger as the season goes on.

The French tactician will have been especially delighted that it was the under-pressure Mesut Ozil who proved to be the star of the show, while deadline-day signing Danny Welbeck grabbed his first goal for the Gunners.

Not for the first time Wenger found himself defending the club’s record signing this week following a disappointing performance in the 2-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday night, but it was Ozil who opened the scoring for the Gunners in the 32 minute, before setting up Welbeck for the second just two minutes later.

Aly Cissokho turned Kieran Gibbs’ shot into his own net in the 36th minute to cap a crazy four-minute spell which effectively sealed the three points, but it was the display of Ozil – playing in a more central role – in particular that would have had Wenger purring, and perhaps silencing the doubters once and for all.

“We had a good work-rate and concentration from the start. We had a very good first half when we were in control and dominated the game,” Wenger said.

“They [Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil] combined very well, especially in the first half. Our plan today was to play Mesut behind their midfield and it worked.

“I’m confident we will go from strength to strength now.”

Arsenal take on Southampton in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday before they look to maintain the pressure on the leaders in the north London derby at the Emirates at the weekend, with the Gunners installed as 1.82 favourites and Spurs on offer at 3.93, while the draw can be backed at 3.38.