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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
James Whaling

Sead Kolasinac fights off knife-wielding thugs trying to steal Mesut Ozil's car

Arsenal star Sead Kolasinac fought off two knife-wielding moped thugs after teammate Mesut Ozil was targeted in a suspected carjacking.

The footballers were travelling in Ozil’s Mercedes SUV in North London yesterday afternoon when the pair targeted it and gave chase.

German playmaker Ozil, 30, ditched the car in the middle of the road and ran to a restaurant for help as defender Kolasinac jumped from the passenger seat and confronted their pursuers.

Footage showed the Bosnian, 26, fending off the pair, who had crash helmets on, and chasing them away. Police confirmed neither player suffered injuries.

An Arsenal spokesman told Mirror Football: "We have been in contact with both players and they are fine."

Did you witness the drama? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk

Kolasinac jumped out of the car to confront the thugs (smhjaames/Twitter)

A police statement said: "We were called to Platts Lane, NW3, shortly before 5pm to reports of an attempted robbery.

"It was reported that suspects on motorbikes had attempted to rob a man.

"The driver, along with his passenger, managed to get away unharmed and travelled to a restaurant in Golders Green, where they were spoken to by officers. There have been no arrests. Enquiries continue."

The incident is understood to have shaken up Ozil who had just returned from the club’s US pre-season trip and had been in training.

An onlooker told Mail Online: "It was totally mad and strange.

"His car was standing there empty in the middle of the road with its door hanging open. It is very distinctive, with gold trim.

Ozil and Kolasinac on Arsenal's pre-season tour of the USA (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

"Ozil looked absolutely terrified, as anybody would after being chased by men with knives. He looked like he was running for his life. And I suppose he was.

"I saw him disappear into the restaurant with the motorcycle guys on his tail. They didn't take off their helmets and were all in black, wearing long sleeved tops in this hot weather."

Celebrity Arsenal fan Piers Morgan tweeted: “Incredible guts from Sead Kolasinac - looks like he took on the whole moped/knife gang.”

Ozil and Kolasinac recently returned to the UK with Arsenal following their pre-season tour to the US.

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