First impression is what sticks. This is the best sentence to describe Özil’s February for Arsenal; his first full month after his long injury spell. Step by step Özil got to the starting line-up – which was not really surprising as Wenger trusts him a lot and he’s a very important player at the club – and he made the most of his opportunity to show his qualities.
A redundant debate lasted for a few weeks on how Mesut Özil and Santi Cazorla could perform in the same midfield, with the Spanish playing amazingly well in the middle and the reason that the returning Özil works better in this role.
On some occasions they showed they could produce quality games together but the fact Cazorla is not a nature central midfielder and Coquelin is not the defensive dream guy, doesn’t help Özil and the team at all, especially in the big games as we saw vs. Monaco.
Arsene Wenger will have a tough job on finding the real deal defensive midfielder to play in the centre of the pitch alongside Aaron Ramsey or Santi Cazorla. Ramsey has a great understanding with Özil and, although I believe he gives the team more balanced options while attacking and tracking back in the game than Santi, they both live different moments in their careers. Only time will tell what’s better for the team.
– FEBRUARY MONTH REPORT: Coming back to the main topic, one game should not be used as a scapegoat for Özil’s impressive month. On February 1st against Aston Villa, Özil provided a master-class assist for Giroud – a quick thinking flick that found Arsenal’s striker free running towards goal. In the second half the French returned the favour and Mesut Özil netted his second league goal of the season.
Özil also scored in the North London Derby but it wasn’t enough to help Arsenal win vs. Tottenham. Despite that, the playmaker continued with his fine form, scoring in three consecutive games; first time he did so for the club. Mesut played a big part in the victory against Leicester with an assist for Laurent Koscielny and with a long-rage shot which lead for Theo Walcott’s goal. Before that, Özil had made an amazing accurate pin-point pass for Walcott that unluckily couldn’t score. In the FA Cup, Arsenal faced Middlesbrough and even though Özil didn’t either score a goal or get an assist he created 7 chances (!) in another great performance.
Later in the month Özil and co. struggled but won in a tense away match at Crystal Palace in what Alexis Sánchez could’ve finished a clear chance in a brilliant play built by Mesut Özil. In the return of the Champions League, Arsenal had a crucial game vs Monaco at the Emirates to try to get a chance on progressing to the quarter-finals of the tournament but the Ligue 1 side outshined Gunners in a poor display from Wenger’s men. Some pundits, journalists and fans always give Özil stick after bad results and this is getting repetitive and a ridiculous common sense.
Of course it was no different on Wednesday. Özil didn’t have one of the best games but it was far from terrible. Pretty much everyone didn’t deliver, there’s no reason to put all responsibility on Mesut Özil. Except for the last performance, Özil had great 28 days for someone who was out for such a time. He scored 2 goals, provided 2 assists as well as creating 17 in 6 games on February.
