Theo Walcott knows a thing or two about aggression. In the Southampton youth team he was known as the Saints Sadist, Theo Wildcott, or The Beast of … ahh … we can’t, but the Arsenal man can recognise it in others when he sees it.
And this season he’s watching Mesut Ozil add some of it to his game, something Walcott feels is making a significant contribution to the German’s goalscoring form.
The former Real Madrid man bagged a hat-trick against Ludogorets last night, just days after Walcott himself should have taken home the match ball – missing chances to get a treble against Swansea.
“He showed me how to score a hat-trick anyway!” said Walcott. “He’s worked really hard, he’s looking strong and fit and you can see there’s a new aggressive level about his play.
“He’s ruthless in front of goal just now and chipping in with a lot more goals, so hopefully it can continue.”
It was Ozil’s 6th goal of the season, and to put that in perspective his best campaign since he joined is 8 – achieved in 2013-14 and again last season. He’s well on course to get into double figures, something Arsene Wenger has been nagging him about for quite some time now.
Watch the goals/highlights again here.
Good night, Gunners. Took this one home with me tonight ?⚽?#safestplace #thebestornothing @MercedesBenz @adidasfootball pic.twitter.com/abwrwmXsym
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) October 19, 2016
It is strange for a player of his talent to have never got into double figures when it comes to league goals in his entire senior career – something you definitely wouldn’t have known if you watched his finishing last night.
But the key question remains – can he do it on a cold rainy night in Stoke…
Go away Michael
Don’t worry, we’ll have Ramsey back by then 😛
The bigger club we’ve faced this season with better players and manager
are Liverpool, Chelsea and PSG
we aren’t really convincing tbh
Yeah but Liverpool was the first match of the season. After watching their snooze fest against man u, I have no doubt Arsenal can take them apart when they next meet.
Dismantling Chelsea and a decent away point to PSG isn’t convincing then?
Away at psg was really a disastrous performance. We were simply saved by cavani. But the way we took apart Chelsea and managed to grind out victory is what set this season apart from the others so far.
Let’s not get too carried away, if we can perform well in November, February and April then we are really in with a shout.
I think what you meant to say is that we were saved by Ospina and not Cavani. Ospina was just playing otherworldly in Paris. But I guess it’s easier to moan if you blame the opposition striker than laud our own goalkeeper for the result. Way to go, you’re definitely fun at parties!
Credit where it’s due. Cavani was shocking in that game against us.
that you Rio?
Owen is that you?
We beat Chelsea
We had a makeshift defence when we played Liverpool! Rod had no experience in PL. We still scored goals. If they play us with the current defense they won’t score that much and you will see the result.
We played PSG with a brand new Mustafi who still had to gel in the team. He has now formed partnership with the boss. Wait for the second leg mate.
Which other team? Oh yes Basle. They let us play otherwise it will be different right?
Equally important for the topic, Ozil was still on holiday when we lost to Liverpool…
Even without him, we scored 3 and were a missed penalty away from a point.
Actually, we scored as many goals in that game as: Sp*rs, Leicester, Chelsea and Mourinho’s mercenaries managed between them.
half the team was missing against Liverpool, most of them rested after EURO, yet 3-4 is not like we’ve been washed. Liverpool had a good start too, credits when it’s due to both.
What we need to do is win consistently and right now we are. This fascination with playing the biggest clubs is as stupid as it is dangerous. The focus needs to be there, whatever the opposition.
Against Liverpool we played Chambers and Holding in defense, half our team was missing / not fit.
PSG are a stern test for anybody. Also Alexis up top was new, Theo was missing.
Ah, this bit about Theo being missing… nobody seemed all that bothered at the time 🙂 He’s changed a few minds since.
#jagunnersja!
CaptainCazorla
Are you fishing?
Liverpool – lost 3-4 with Chambers and Holding at CB, thrashed Chelsea and drew away PSG…
I’m not denying that we’ve got away with a few this season (ie Burley, Southampton) but we’ve done alright against the ‘bigger’ teams so far
I think I just worked out what Ozil’s front door security code is.
It’s bleep bleep bleep bleep
Just a quick word on that finish Mesut’s done a few times (last night as well as Chelsea and United) and whether it’s intentional; anyone remember watching this on loop when we first signed him? Hmm… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiAmUehzA30
I know it’s not really relevant, but when he turned around, it looked like he had a sticky note stuck to his arse. Yeah.
let hope he got more goals in important matches so that we can always win more and enjoy the match
it’s kinda strange for people to say Ozil has not been performing against big teams. what happened last season against Man Utd and Liverpool. At least I’m pleased he’s shutting the mouths of doubters.
With Ozil scoring like this, his game is starting to resemble Bergkamp’s. Exciting times!
That door looked like a beast too, yeah!!!
30 premier League wins is enough to win the title, no? That should be d target and this team can achieve that.
What are the A, B, and C targets then?
A: 27 wins
B: 28 wins
C: 29 wins
Obvious really!
Or?
A: 33 wins
B: 32 wins
C: 31 wins
Clearly the video was taken by Mustafi. Do u think he changed his door code after Flamini left?
I think Flamini received him with dinner.
Mesut…Mesut. Nuff Said. ?
Beast of the Southern Wild