A goal, an assist and covering more ground than any of his team-mates; did Arsenal’s £42million man answer his critics on every level? Have your say and vote at the bottom of the page
Saturday 20 September 2014 19:14, UK
One minute and 19 seconds. That was the time it took for a transformation in the appraisals of Mesut Ozil.
Answering his critics in style, the German scored his first away goal in the Premier League and, 79 seconds later, set up Danny Welbeck for Arsenal’s second at Aston Villa on Saturday.
An Aly Cissokho own goal completed what was a goal frenzy after just one extra minute to give Arsenal their 3-0 win but there was much more to Ozil’s performance than that frantic first-half spell.
The World Cup winner, who only returned to Arsenal on 11th August after this summer’s tournament, had previously seen his club performances questioned and his desire doubted.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, though, had insisted in the days leading up to the game at Villa that his £42million record signing should not become a ‘scapegoat’ and that he needed time to readjust after the World Cup.
Wenger’s words apparently helped Ozil in a performance on Saturday which, although he did not always dominate the game for prolonged periods, showed his class with that goal and assist along with his commitment as he covered more ground than any of his team-mates.
5TH MINUTE
Villa start with a clear aim of pressing Arsenal in high areas of the pitch and putting their visitors’ under pressure. But Ozil, playing in what is widely considered to be his best position in the No.10 role behind Welbeck, is constantly looking bright and aiming to move forward. Four of his overall five early passes are in Villa’s half and he plays the ball at an accuracy of 100 per cent. One quick pass out wide to Kieran Gibbs is especially creative and helps Arsenal on to the front foot.
15TH MINUTE
Arsenal begin to dominate Villa and have 133 passes to their hosts 49. Arsenal are also boasting a 72% majority of possession and are playing their passes at an accuracy of 88% to Villa’s 55%. Ozil is key to this, producing 11 passes at an accuracy of 91% despite drifting on the periphery of the game with just 11 touches. Only Welbeck has seen less of the ball among Arsenal’s outfield players after having six touches.
25TH MINUTE
Ozil picks out Ramsey with a wonderful pass but the Welshman attempts to play the ball on to Welbeck with his first touch when he could have controlled and shot. That means Ozil has now played 11 passes in Villa’s half and he has not misplaced one of those attempts. No player on the pitch with more than 10 passes in opposition territory can match that 100% accuracy level. But the German has spent the period between the 21st and 25th minute walking for 64% of the time, which is his most inactive period of the first half.
32ND MINUTE
Ozil sparks an incredible three-minute-and-12-second spell for Arsenal as he scores the opener after collecting Welbeck’s precise pass to slot the ball to Brad Guzan’s right-hand side. It is Ozil’s first away goal in the Premier League for Arsenal and, indeed, is even his first on the road in the league for either Arsenal or Real Madrid since December 2012. Seventy-nine seconds later, scorer turns provider as Ozil assists Welbeck for the striker’s first goal since his summer deadline day arrival. Cissokho then scores his own goal in what will be the games's last goal.
HALF-TIME
Ozil played very well. I must say I could not see one player who did not play well today and he was part of it. He took advantage of his position and his link-up play with Danny Welbeck was very good
Arsenal’s blitz of Villa stuns the stadium and the visitors have their comfortable lead. Ozil’s influence is undoubted after one goal from two shots and also providing the assist for Welbeck. Ozil has also played 21 passes in Villa’s half at a faultless accuracy of 100%. He has had 34 touches of the ball and has been involved in three duels, although he has only won one of those contests.
51ST MINUTE
Arsenal are in cruise control with the game already as good as won. Wenger’s men are dominating the ball with 400 passes to Villa’s 196 and playing their passes at an accuracy of 89% to their hosts’ 67%. This is ideal circumstances for Ozil and he plays in Welbeck for a shot at Guzan. Ozil has now played 25 passes in Villa’s half, although his accuracy has dropped slightly to 96%.
69TH MINUTE
Arsenal almost get a fourth goal but Ozil is unfortunate to see his through ball towards Welbeck crash into the shins of a team-mate. Ozil has played 34 passes in the Villa half, which is a total more than any other player on the pitch. Arsenal are completely dominant and are enjoying a 71% majority of possession as they simply aim to pass away the remaining time on the clock.
FULL-TIME
Arsenal have shown little ambition to go for any more goals and have instead protected their 3-0 margin of victory by keeping the ball. They end the game with 814 passes to Villa’s 312. In fact, Villa have only managed six more passes in the entire match than Arsenal played in the first half alone. As a part of this, Ozil finishes the game having played 56 passes in Villa’s half, which is more than any other player on either team. Also, interestingly, for those who have questioned his work-rate, Ozil has covered a greater distance (11.26 kilometres) than any of his team-mates.
PHIL THOMPSON’S VERDICT…
“I do not see enough of Ozil running off the ball to get in the box but he did it today. He was there and making those breaks. They were not lung-bursting breaks which are 30-yard runs, they are 10 or 15-yard runs. When the ball is getting played up, he is getting forward to help more centrally. That is where he played and he was good.”
