Per Mertesacker has described Mesut Özil as Arsenal’s “main threat” and said the team are trying to get the German playmaker on the ball in dangerous areas as often as possible.
Özil has been in inspirational form this season, with the two goal assists he provided in Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City on Monday, for Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud, taking his tally to 15 in 16 league appearances.
Having signed from Real Madrid for £42.5m in September 2013, the 27-year-old had struggled to make an impact and had been all but eclipsed by Alexis Sánchez following his arrival from Barcelona. But according to his compatriot, Özil is now Arsenal’s creator-in-chief.
“He is vital for us,” Mertesacker said. “We want to get him on the ball in the final third, that is what we’re trying to do every single time. Özil is the main threat and he gives us a good pass at the right moment and he can see the difference, so we try to find him. That is the solution for us, to expose the back four, and then he is really dangerous when he gets into that pocket and plays the ball behind.”
In an interview with the German magazine Kicker, Özil revealed that having more sleep was the secret to his success this season.
Arsenal’s victory over City was their fourth match without defeat in the Premier League, opening up a four-point advantage on Manuel Pellegrini’s side in third place. They are now only two points behind the leaders, Leicester City, before a Boxing Day trip to Southampton and, with home games against Bournemouth and Newcastle to follow, talk of Arsenal winning the title for the first time since 2004 is growing.
“It is going to be difficult and we need to stay concentrated,” Mertesacker said. “The Christmas period is the most important now and we are sliding into it. It is up to us to keep that consistency.”
Arsène Wenger was hoping to have Sánchez back in contention for City’s visit to the Emirates but the Arsenal manager revealed after the match that the forward has suffered a setback in his recovery from the hamstring strain he suffered at Norwich last month and will now not return until 10 January at the earliest.
That is a blow for Arsenal but, as far as Mertesacker is concerned, not a reason for the team to go looking for excuses. “We need to find solutions,” the centre-back said. “That is how we approach the season and every single game.”
