Arsenal supporters were not pleased with the showing of Mesut Ozil, who struggled to make the difference during the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League last night.
The Germany international was expected to put in a stronger performance after failing to show up during the recent League Cup final to Manchester City, but barring the opening exchanges, the 29-year-old had a similar sort of game.
The World Cup winner was surprisingly slow with his decision-making over the course of the match, and the Gunners fans happened to be the old side of the German, where he was often frustrated after losing possession.
Here are some of the tweets:
https://twitter.com/A_HM28/status/969320072383787009
Ozil is doing my head in this evening. Haven't seen much of him since he signed. Never been talismanic against bigger sides.
— Nick C-B (@Wengers_Jacket) March 1, 2018
Is it me or is Ozil walking around like a petulant child?
— Doug (@AFCDoug) March 1, 2018
Same old Ozil. Turns the ball over and looks to blame someone else!#arsenal #afc #Ozil
— Arsenal West Palm Beach 🌴 (@Arsenal_WPB) March 1, 2018
Imagine paying #Ozil £300k a week. The guy is a disgrace. Turns up 1 out of 3 games, he signed because no one else wanted him #Arsenal
— Adam (@AdamR519) March 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/YankeeGunner/status/969318369739583496
I’m sorry but Mesut Ozil is not an elite footballer.
— good ebening (@Armor4Sleep) March 1, 2018
Arsenal really made Ozil the highest paid player in their history for him to start playing like he's Mkhi
— Marrotti (@AliquamScripto) March 1, 2018
Even Mesut Ozil is playing without any conviction, that's when you know that there is a real problem in the team and that lies solely with the manager.
— Sash ~ (@ltarsenal) March 1, 2018
Ozil appeared to be playing with intensity prior to signing a contract extension, but everything has been deja vu since then, with the attacker leaning back to his previous laziness on the pitch.
The performance does not fully warrant him being the most-expensive player on the pitch last night, and he needs to step up big time this weekend for Arsenal to return to winning ways.
Arsene Wenger’s side have picked up just 13 points in 14 league matches on the road this term, and despite playing only Brighton, they to find the cutting edge to their play in order to come up with three points.
With the Citizens’ defeat, the top-four hopes are more or less over, and the focus is likely to shift to the Europa League, where winning the competition assures of a place in the Champions League next term.
However, that does not come easy as well with AC Milan likely to prove difficult opponents in the two-legged round of 16 tie – owing to their unbeaten run in 2018 which includes victories over AS Roma and Lazio of late.