Football news - Mesut Ozil uses his Arsenal to highlight Germany’s grotesque act of self-harm
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Updated 25/10/2018 at 06:10 GMT
Mesut Ozil and Germany split up after the World Cup, but there is no doubt who has come out of the messy divorce looking better, writes Desmond Kane.
Mesut Ozil sizzles against Leicester.
Image credit: Eurosport
There was a certain amount of schadenfreude about Mesut Ozil’s pristine performance against Leicester City on Monday evening. If there isn’t, there should be.
Especially coming only days after Joachim Low's Germany slipped to a sixth defeat in a year – a 2-1 loss to France in Paris - for the first time in their national side’s history.
Rejuvenated after resting during the international break, the majestically oscillating Ozil reminded his country of their grotesque act of self-harm.
With Germany at their lowest ebb, Ozil - relishing this evening's Europa League meeting with Sporting - is enjoying a classic renaissance built upon his unerring vision, pace, technique and movement. They are all part of his Arsenal, a club who continue to splurge on what Germany took for granted.
Germany rarely get it wrong, but it would be fair to say this year has been about as memorable for them as Uli Hoeness’s 18-month stint in the clink.
The Bayern Munich president Hoeness – banged up for tax evasion in 2014 – is never backwards at coming forwards, and the 1974 World Cup winner made some wretched comments when Ozil opted to retire in July.
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2nd L) celebrates with Arsenal's German midfielder Mesut Ozil (L) as (Arsenal's Nigerian striker Alex Iwobi reacts behind), after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester.
Image credit: Eurosport
Ozil was made a scapegoat for Germany departing the scene in Russia at the group stage having suffering gruesome defeats to tournament plodders Mexico and South Korea.
Stung by serve criticism after having his picture taken with the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in London before the finals, Ozil resigned citing “disrespect and racism” as the reasons for his retirement after 92 caps.
"I'm glad it is over. He's been playing dirt for years,” said Hoeness in a quite disgraceful outburst. "He last won a tackle before the 2014 World Cup."
The German FA president has admitted regrets over lack of support for Ozil.
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Germany's midfielder Mesut Ozil reacts
Image credit: Getty Images
"Regarding the racist attacks, I could have taken a clearer position at some points and stood by Mesut Özil," said Reinhard Grindel. "I should have been clear with my words. Such attacks are completely unacceptable. I regret that he felt deserted by the DFB."
Ozil was Germany’s player of year in 2015 and 2016. He showed why against Leicester.
His goal sees him become the highest-scoring German in the Premier League, overtaking Jurgen Klinsmann’s total of 29, but it was his all-round contribution that cut his opponents to the quick.
Ozil enjoys a short game sharper than Phil Mickelson.
What Lefty can do with a 64 degree wedge in golf, Ozil can perform with a pair of predators.
A sand-wedge pass was how the third goal was described on social media reflecting the care, attention and incision that went into serving Leicester up on a slab.
It was not only a goal – it was a period piece. Like a fine piece of Clarice Cliff, it is the sort of item that you will never grow tired of looking at.
Less than 24 hours later, it is already a vintage moment in the annals of Unai Emery's bristling Arsenal.
Ozil had fed Hector Bellerin who supplied Ozil to slip the equaliser into the net for the first goal before a delicious second goal saw Ozil thread through Bellerin who in turn supplied Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for a simple finish from unmissable range.
Yet it was the third goal that suggests normal business has been resumed. Whether the fans will ever have their Arsenal back as football becomes ever more detached from its roots, but there is little question they have their Ozil back.
Having looked increasingly forlorn and misunderstood in recent times after signing a new contract under Arsene Wenger at the outset of the year, this was the return of a figure Arsenal unleashed £42.5m to land from Real Madrid in 2013.
He was involved in a sort of Harlem Globetrotters goal as Arsenal weaved intricate passes up the park at breakneck speed with Leicester looking leaden.
Bernd Leno fed Rob Holding with a short pass before he slipped the ball wide for Granit Xhaka to pick out Lucas Torreira infield, whose pass to Ozil prompted a backheel flick of such supreme quality that Matteo Guendouzi did not need to break stride.
He quickly supplied Héctor Bellerín on the overlap rampaging forward.
Bellerin looked for Ozil on the run, but he opted to dummy it to Alexandre Lacazette behind him before continuing his surge into the box.
An intentional pass with the outside of his left foot that resembled getting air under a Mickelson bunker shot saw the ball pop up perfectly for Aubameyang to score his second goal inside three minutes.
A move started on the 66th minute was ended officially 22 seconds later involving nine passes, nine men and a desire best reserved for Mills and Boon. Ozil described it as "sexy football" but it has not been quite so orgasmic at the Emirates for some time with the storm surge carrying Emery's team on a 10-match winning run.
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Mesut Özil
Image credit: Getty Images
Conversely, Germany's loss is quite staggering. Allowing the conditions to develop for Ozil to quit after his family received death threats is arguably worse than their impoverished defence of the World Cup.
"He is the best No.10 in the world", said Jose Mourinho a few years back.
He makes things very easy for me and for his team-mates with his football vision and the decisions he makes. Everyone loves him and sees a bit of Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane in him.
At the age of 30, he still enjoys such ingredients.
If Joachim Low wasn't crying into his steins and sauerkraut, he should be.
Desmond Kane
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