Mesut Ozil: When Arsenal are on a bad run somebody needs to be singled out, sadly it's usually me
Mesut Ozil says that he believes he is “singled out” for criticism when Arsenal’s form slumps.
The German international’s dreamy style on the pitch has often been interpreted as diffidence by his critics, particularly in a season where several high-profile games seem to have passed Ozil by.
His agent, Dr Erkut Sogut, last month claimed that his client had been made a “scapegoat” for Arsenal’s struggles and Ozil echoed those complaints.
“People know what I have achieved,” he told Sport Bild. “That I am a World Cup winner, played for Real Madrid, set up 20 goals last season [in all competitions].
“When the team's on a bad run, somebody needs to be singled out, sadly most of the time it's me.”
Even his most ardent critics would struggle to hold Ozil to account for Arsenal’s recent struggles. He has not been in Arsene Wenger’s starting lineup for the last five games, of which the only two wins have come against non-league opposition.
Injuries and illness have kept Ozil out of the side but he made his return to the Germany team on Sunday, playing the final 39 minutes of his country’s 4-1 win in Azerbaijan.
German head coach Joachim Low has long been one of Ozil’s strongest supporters, handing him the reigns to Die Mannschaft’s attack at just 21 years of age at the 2010 World Cup, and believes the Arsenal playmaker is one of the best in the world in his position.
“His passes, his touch of the ball are unique,” Low added to Bild. “He plays his passes directly into the running path of his teammates, exactly where they have to go. That's Mesut's big strength, and Cristiano Ronaldo profited from it at Real.
“Sure, his performances are patchy sometimes. But he does things, which not everyone sees at first glance. Even when he is not at his best, he usually has the best running performances at the highest intensity. He covers a lot of ground, and a few don't realise it.
“Mesut can make the difference.”