Ozil lets football do the talking in Gunners blitz
ARSENAL 5 HUDDERSFIELD 0
MESUT OZIL is due for yet another round of contract negotiations but he will struggle to make a more eloquent case than his last two on-field contributions.
After an assist and wider performance of intensity and commitment in the 2-0 win against Tottenham, he was at his absolute creative best in a comprehensive victory over Huddersfield that stretches Arsenal’s winning home Premier League streak to 12.
Ozil delivered a goal and two assists during a four-minute second-half blur of passing that settled what actually had been a deceptively even match.
Olivier Giroud also came on and scored twice in the second half but, with Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United waiting on Saturday, Arsene Wenger may well be most enthused by what was also a 10th clean sheet in 14 matches at what is fastbecoming Fortress Emirates.
Huddersfield were set up in a formation that largely only left striker Steve Mounie in front of the ball whenever they lost possession, but any plan to negate and then gradually frustrate Arsenal became derailed within three minutes.
Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette had quickly exchanged passes before Aaron Ramsey then deftly released the France striker. There is still some debate over whether Lacazette or Giroud is the most effective forward at linking Arsenal’s intricate passing but the new club record signing is surely the more reliable finisher and he calmly guided the ball past Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl.
Arsenal were to then lose much of their early focus and Huddersfield had three good chances to equalise before half-time but were wasteful which, at this level, will be punished.
Still, they maintained their momentum at the start of the second half and soon created further opportunities. Collin Quaner made a very direct sprint into Arsenal’s penalty area but his low shot was just parried clear by Petr Cech’s outstretched boot. Mounie then had another chance and the Czech goalkeeper palmed his deflected shot onto the crossbar.
Huddersfield’s willingness to take the game to Arsenal, however, was also creating an added vulnerability on the counter-attack that was ruthlessly punished.
An injured Lacazette had been replaced at half-time by Giroud and, after having one shot blocked and another cannon against the post, he found his range following another wonderful passing move. Sead Kolasinac had released Ozil, who exchanged a one-two with Sanchez before crossing for Giroud to convert easily. Any slight tension instantly disappeared and Arsenal scored twice more in the next three minutes.
Ozil surged down the opposite flank and his cross was emphatically met by Sanchez’s first-time finish. Ramsey, who had been hugely influential with his deep passing from midfield, then released Ozil who deftly lifted his finish over Lossl.
The match was finished as a contest and, with Wenger’s mind clearly turning to the visit of Mourinho on Saturday, both Sanchez and Ramsey were withdrawn. That still did not mean much let-up for Huddersfield, however, and Giroud added further gloss to the scoreline after another powerful run by Kolasinac from left wing-back.
The only cloud on the night was the news that Lacazette suffered a groin injury which is likely to rule him out of Saturday’s United clash. (© Daily Telegraph, London)