OZIL THE ORDINARY
A goal in his anniversary game, but is that enough for a player who is too often...
HE SCORED and won the acclaim of his team- mates, but to assume all is now right in the complicated world of Mesut Ozil would be premature.
The same is true of Arsenal, who recorded a third straight win and back-to-back victories away from home for the first time since May 2017. But the Gunners simply aren’t that good. They were better than Newcastle and Ozil was just about superior to anyone on the opposition, but to use Rafa Benitez’s side as a yardstick for your merits is like a teacher taking comfort from being the smartest in a classroom full of children.
Arsenal, and Ozil, must prove themselves against far better opponents than this if there is to be talk of corners turned and a bright new era under Unai Emery, whose side were still unsure in defence and wasteful in attack.
When it comes to firepower, Newcastle are armed with a water pistol and all the visitors had to do here was soak up some first-half pressure — although that was more drizzle than storm — before turning the tide after the break.
Granit Xhaka produced a timely stunner of a free-kick to lead the way on 49 minutes and nd Ozil added a second before the he hour. That it was the German’s ’s first Premier League goal since ce December, however, should d temper the adulation.
It is exactly five years and 200 games since Ozil’s debut for Arsenal following his £42.5million ld. arrival from Real Madrid. Ozil, though, had never played d at St James’ Park before Saturday, ra a fact which brought a knowing smile to the face of f Xhaka when reflecting afterwards. - It would appear that t missing the longest trip of the e season for half a decade is a point of hilarity in the Arsenal dressing room.
There was some good, some bad about Ozil here. One smart Cruyff turn on halfway left his minder floundering. But that is what he does, his ability on the ball acting as deception against his indifference off it.
There was one instance where he refused to chase back, seemingly miffed at the non-award of a free-kick after a palm in his face, while his number of attempted passes — 38 — was less than teenager Matteo Guendouzi managed aged in 45 minutes.
So let us not read too much into Xhaka’s words of praise which followed.
‘With the ball he is unbelievable, he keeps it all the time,’ Xhaka said. ‘He is never scared to take the ball, be it from the back or the midfield. He has the quality in the final third to then create a goal or score himself.’
And what of the recent criticism of Ozil amid talk of fallings-out with Emery? ‘ You know that people will speak and the newspapers will write… Sometimes you just have to ignore it,’ said Xhaka, the game’s best player.
‘For us, the most important thing is the coach — if he is happy with the players then we are happy as well.’
Emery did speak of his satisfaction with a win which, on reflection, should have been secured without the anxiety of a late scare when Ciaran Clark headed a reply for the hosts.
Newcastle were poor. This is now their worst five-game start to a Premier League season since Ruud Gullit was sacked in 1999.
Newcastle’s four 2-1 defeats have come against top-six sides, but when players cannot cross or shoot with any degree of accuracy, the opposition matters not.
And that is the problem for manager Benitez. He lacks good players. He released the handbrake against Arsenal in the wake of criticism over negative tactics but what followed was a car crash, a more expansive gameplan let down by narrow-minded thinking in the final third.
There was no one to create, but no one to finish, either, especially as Jonjo Shelvey and striker Salomon Rondon were unused substitutes. Benitez, of course, believes owner Mike Ashley is to blame after another summer of underinvestment. But now he must make the most of what he has, just as he did last season.
‘It is very clear, Newcastle — United,’ he said, hoping that unity will trump ability in the coming weeks. ‘When we are united we are stronger and it’s just the only way for us.’ NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1): Dubravka 6; Yedlin 6, Lascelles 6 (Clark 46min, 6.5), Fernandez 7, Dummett 6.5; Hayden 5, Diame 5.5; Murphy 5 (Kenedy 69 5), Perez 5 (Muto 79, 5), Ritchie 6.5; Joselu 5. Subs not used: Darlow, Shelvey, Rondon, Manquillo. Scorer: Clark 90+1. Booked: None. Manager: Rafa Benitez 5. ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Cech 6; Bellerin 6, Mustafi 6, Sokratis 6, Monreal 6; Guendouzi 6 (Torreira 46, 7), XHAKA 7.5; Ozil 6.5, Ramsey 6 (Welbeck 80), Aubameyang 6 (Mkhitaryan 69, 6); Lacazette 6. Subs not used: Elneny, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Leno. Scorers: Xhaka 49, Ozil 58. Booked: None. Manager: Unai Emery 6. Referee: Lee Probert 6. Attendance: 52,165.