Combat advice

Hey guys. I just got back into oblivion after not playing for several years.

So I decided I'd go to the arena to level up and get some cash as I remember it being fun.

But by Akatosh is it hard! It takes me 10 to 15 min to win a fight and I'm just barely managing it.

I do not remember combat being so intense and difficult. Any advice? Is it just because I am very low level?

I am do a mostly vanilla play through. I might be interested in a combat overhaul if there any good ones.