Arsenal: Andrea Pirlo heaps praise on Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil

Italian legend Andrea Pirlo has named Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Nacho Monreal in his best team of the Premier League thus far this season. Manchester City are the only team to have more players in his selection of 11 players with four, while Chelsea have two.

Pirlo believes that Ozil is the best playmaker in Europe, creating plenty of chances in the first half of the season, currently leading the league with 16 assists. Ozil is reminiscent of Pirlo in his prime, who was known for his ability to carve open defences. Now the Italian has heaped similar praise on the German, claiming that the 27-year-old has a better vision than any other player in Europe.

"Maybe the most creative player in Europe right now. [He] creates an unbelievable amount of chances for attackers playing ahead of him. He has vision like nobody else in Europe," Pirlo told Shortlist Magazine, as quoted by the Evening Standard.

Pirlo also waxed lyrical about Sanchez, who has been the cornerstone of Arsenal's success since his arrival from Barcelona. The veteran believes the Chilean has realised his true potential at the Emirates, having spent a few seasons in the shadow of Lionel Messi and Neymar.

"It is easy not to get the credit you deserve at Barcelona because of [Lionel] Messi, and now Neymar and [Luis] Suarez, but Sanchez has shown at Arsenal how good he is. They have made him the focal point of their attack and he is repaying their faith," Pirlo added.

The Gunners need more from these players if they have to have hopes of winning the league this season. The north London club have failed to score in their last three games, which has allowed Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Leicester City to steal a march on the Gunners, leaving them in the fourth spot, with 14 games left to go.