When Arsene Wenger made the decision to bring in the German
instead of the tried and tested Cesc Fabregas, I was truly pissed. I mean,
Arsenal had the first option on a player who the Gunners had groomed, nurtured
to world-class status, and who had become a European and World Cup winner. Over
an Ozil that seemed slow and not physically made for the Premier League, even
if he was technically talented.
Well, the assist king has proven every critic like me wrong.
Fabregas may have been hugely instrumental to Chelsea’s title triumph last
season amassing an impressive 18 assists en route, it is the German, however,
who is hoarding all the spotlight this campaign.
It appears that Arsenal’s 12-year wait for the EPL title may
just come to an end and Ozil may be chief among the players fuelling that
believe.
After being on the sickbed all week, Ozil came alive yet
again on Monday Night providing two assists as Arsenal wrecked the City train
and confirmed themselves as genuine title favourites. They were his 14th and
15th assists in just 16 showings, becoming the fastest player in
Premier League's history to reach 15 assists in a season. He is now a
mere 5 behind the EPL assist record.
Arsenal are winning games, putting together a good run of
form all while missing a few key first team players. In previous seasons, the
Gunners would have buckled under pressure. This time, they seemed to be
reveling in it!
The Ozil factor cannot be underestimated in the whole
equation. In the absence of Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin,
the German World Cup winner has formed good partnerships with Joel Campbell and
Aaron Ramsey. It’s a joy to watch, no small thanks to this former Madrid
maestro.
Ozil reminds me more and more of Dennis Bergkamp. He’s a
champion. An intelligent one. The kind that makes the Premier League look so
easy. No disrespect to Jamie Vardy and Mahrez but the 2015-16 EPL season is
turning out to be the Mesut Ozil show!
Ozil has 15 assists, the same as De Bruyne, Silva, Fabregas
and Mata combined. Putting it in more perspective, the entire Man United squad
has only registered 12 assists, Chelsea have 11. Ozil’s 15 becomes more
unbelievable. Arsenal fans are already searching the dictionary for synonyms to
describe the midfielder’s elegance and finesse and the words being brandishing
would make a god blush.
Stats don’t lie, he’s no flash in the pan and we saw this
coming. Mesut Ozil has created more chances (120) in 2015 than any other
Premier League player.
People will continue to compare Ozil with David Silva, Cesc
Fabregas, Jamie Rodriguez and co but on the back of his magical performances in
2015, the assist King will stay head and shoulder above the chasing pack.
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