Arsene Wenger has praised Mesut Ozil for the consistency of his performances in recent weeks, saying that the German has become a leader in the team.
It wouldn’t be unfair to suggest that Ozil’s best performances also came when the team as a whole played well, but yesterday he helped make the difference as the group struggled in the North London derby.
His cross for Kieran Gibbs was his sixth assist in six consecutive games, drawing plaudits from his manager afterwards.
Speaking to Arsenal Player, Wenger said, “He was outstanding again.He has grown into a very great player as he has added commitment, leadership qualities and responsibility and I’m very pleased with his development.”
There was earlier praise from Per Mertesacker who said, “He gave a lot of good set-pieces and we had a couple of great chances.
“If we continue to play like that and fight like that, he can have an enormous impact on our season.”
Thankfully he’s been spared international duty so when we come back to face West Brom away, he should be fit and sharp and, hopefully, ready to make the difference again.
—
Picture via Stuart MacFarlane’s Flickr account – subscribe now for great Arsenal pictures.
Awesome picture. I envy Stuart MacFarlane’s job.
Such a top photo. It would be incredible to be pitch side and watch players of Ozil’s talents so close up. When you’re that close to the action its such a different match day experience to being far away. It makes you really appreciate how fast the game is played.
Yes, I’m just trying to sneak this in at the top, but for you guys to read and understand the truth of just how “badly” Mesut Ozil is nicking a living so far this season. It’s absolutely “horrendous”!
http://metro.co.uk/2015/11/10/arsenals-mesut-ozil-has-more-assists-than-juan-mata-cesc-fabregas-eden-hazard-and-philippe-coutinho-combined-this-season-5492571/
Fabregas used to be one of my favorite players haha.. so shaming when you consider what we have now…. Love ozil if he stays fit we will win the league hands down
He made that goal that Gibbs scored. Delivered it to him on a platter for what amounted to a tap-in. Good on Gibbs for being there and finishing, but that curling, inch-perfect cross was eye-popping.
Ordered his name and numero on the back of my shirt last week and yesterday only solidified my smugness at my choice.
Player of the season hands down.
I’ve also been tempted too.. such a top player.
I kid you not but before the 2-0 Bayern Munich game, I made a flippant remark to mate saying if Ozil scores and we win, I’m going to get an Ozil 11 shirt.
Got it now, and don’t regret it one bit.
Get fucked, Coquelin is clearly been our player of the season.
Mesut plays shit for 75 minutes then puts in one good ball & suddenly he is the second coming.
if a no name played like Ozil yesterday h would be slated, Campbell had a far more productive game but no plaudits there.
You’re an idiot.
‘idiot’ doesn’t cover it!
So because his opinion is different to yours that makes him an idiot?
Not necessarily but having a go a Ozil, particularly with his current form, does suggest a certain lack of intelligence.
Con-Troll youself!
See what I did there? Eh, eh?
The best 10 in the world right now.
And he’s a gunner.
At this rate he’ll smash Henry’s record
I hope he retires at Arsenal
and what is even more impressive is the recently evolving defensive side to his game. you wouldn’t notice it because he is so smooth, but his recovery and turnover stats are getting better and better….what a player!…..and that killer pass in the bayern game, the one he did while being basically hauled down by a bayern player….sublime!
Funny how Cristiano Ronaldo, Lahm, Kroos, Low, Wenger, Mourinho [cunt], Rooney, etc all rate ozil as the best CAM ever. But, oh no, Danny mills and Danny murphy don’t rate him highly. How will he ever go on?
I think the fact that players like scott parker etc get lauded by English pundits, is really telling why England don’t develop many technical players.
Platini as well is a big fan. 🙂
Platini is your fan until the day he realizes you are getting more popular than he has ever been. He then starts criticizing you.
But only after he’s taken a big fat wedge out of Blatter’s koffers and kissed his satanic hand. Worship Satan first, ego second.
he needs to run around a bit more and chop some legs off then the English pundits will love him! haha
With Gibbs in this kind of scoring mood it bodes well for the rest of the season.
Broken the Premier League record for assists and has the highest creation rate in the history of the league……YEAH, BUT HE DOESN’T RUN AROUND LIKE DELI ALI (even though Opta shows he covered the most distance).
Exhibit A in why England will never again win a World Cup.
Hopefully, Chile, French and Spanish FA’s follow suit and rest their PL players. Santi, Giroud, Kos, Alexis can all do with 2 weeks break.
I am also hoping Ramsey, Ox, Theo and Bellerin to come back strong after the break too.
Ozil has been constantly on the rise since his return from the injury in Jan and has totally justified the faith Wenger has placed in him. I hope he keeps getting better.
At half time yesterday, I couldn’t help thinking the only something special from Ozil, Giroud or Sanchez would save us from defeat and so it proved.
Certainly need Walcott and Bellerin back asap. We missed their pace and the effect that has on the oppositions defensive line-up.
All this is not by chance: it is the result of one year of effort and hard work. His injury one year ago looks more and more like a blessing. Mesut has been in top form since his return from injury in january. One year of more and more delight! May it last!
Not just that, his injury allowed him to have more free time and build up his body which is now much different going in challenges and holding the ball up players now can’t knocked it out of him, he is using the body very well when he is holding the ball.
Ozil is a wizard. Obvious fact. Profound still.
Wizard of Oz?
Hes a what?!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKNhPpUR0Pg
I love how people finally acknowledge how amazing he actually is. And glad he took every letter of criticism to prove everyone how wrong they were.
Amazing player. Joy to watch.
Murphy and mills are such talentless cunts there not even fit to clean mesuts boots!!.cant even use their first names they annoy me that much
Yeah, just sour grapes mate. He has this memory to keep him sour 😉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhR-WnafzoE
Ozil was not at his best against Spurs. BUT he still came up with the crucial assist! We will need Santi back and this position is an issue.If anything we should be in the market for someone who can replicate Santi (NOT Coquelin). Other than that thought Debuchy is showing signs of improvement and getting back into the groove although he went flat late on likely bc of fitness. Campbell showed great sense on the ball. When you compare him to our other options, IF he should continue to improve, he is not a bad choice. We know Ramsey isn’t… Read more »
Giroud fashioned out his chances?? you must be having a laugh. Contrary to what you think, Giroud does not get criticized because people are jealous of his looks but because he misses very easy match winning chances time and time again. I don’t know what game you were watching, but Giroud was no “leader”. Trying to get the crowd going after missing a chance isn’t signs of leadership. As for Campbell, defend him all you want, but he had a POOR game. He lost possession a lot of times in the first half and truly does lack the cutting edge… Read more »
Trying to get the crowd going is precisely the sign of a leader. It worked too.
The fans and the game itself were surprisingly subdued for a derby, at least where I was sitting. The Man U game was a lot louder. I guess going 3-0 up so quickly put everyone in a singing mood 🙂
To me the leader on the pitch showing the most bite and fight on derby day was actually Giroud.
He must have had a testosterone booster before the match.
Think this team deserves more credit than its getting. We signed no one and people said that we were done for. Now look at the injuries we have and were still up at the top. Beaten Man U, Everton, Swansea that are all teams that I would usually look at before and see 3 wins. Took 3 points from 2 games against Bayern which although the defeat was humbling would you rather 2 draws and a point less?And now not losing yesterdays game which on another season we lose it any time weve had injuries like this. The crowd were… Read more »
Worth noting all this talk about Squad depth and lack of quality….City had to play a comparative unknown youngster with Bony and Aguero out. We also have issues with our strikers but we actually have 3 in Giroud, Welbeck and Walcott so Wenger cannot be faulted for not having depth in the position. We heard the same trite from the media about how we ‘failed’ to buy an outfield player (Failed would suggest we were even bidding for one) and that Chelsea bought well and were the team to beat. That was after one game in. Well well. Liverpool and… Read more »
You sold Bale….
Ozil is one of the smoothest players I’ve ever seen. Everything he does looks completely effortless, and yet his work rate is huge. I’m so glad we’ve got him!
I love Özil, always have, my picture has stayed the same since we digned him. For a lad with such funny eyes, its clear they’re working perfectly, in fact i think he is an alien, for he sees things that other plays don’t. I think his eyes let him see into the future. I think he sees the player scoring before he passes the ball ? In fact im sure he has already said, “next year, in the champions league final, against Real Madrid, the scoreline is 0-0 i will celebrate on 85 minutes before i play walcott through to… Read more »
Look we all know he doesn’t run around enough, goes missing and is nicking a living…fucking useless!
I think some people cannot spot irony!
You got that right!
My dad reckons he’d be quite good if he just ran around a bit more,and that’s good enough for me.
Give him the armband for a couple of games here and there. He’s certainly leading by example.
Smartest player I know. Best use of brain and those big eyes.
We know that Alexis will play the full 90 mins in both their games. Wenger should play him against West Brom. Then in the next game, which is against Zagreb, he should be rested. Start with Iwobi or The Jeff on the left. Then bring in Gibbs later.
Funny how the media aren’t giving him credit. They were quick to label him as a flop!
We should make use of the media, pundits and others hating Özi: We will never have to sell him. Let him be the worst rated and most criticized world class player to smash record after record, retiring at Arsenal. Jealousy goes a long way.
*Özil
Özil should be captain, in my opinion. Him or Cech. Or Coq.