PERFECT 10

Ozil back to his brilliant best as he and an Auba double help resurgent Gunners stretch their amazing winning streak

Arsenal 3 Leicester 1

ARSENAL turned on the style to make it a perfect 10 – after an incredible penalty escape.

Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang inspired the Gunners to a thrilling fightback which took their winning run into double figures.

But that came only after referee Chris

MESUT OZIL delivered a masterclass to inspire a brilliant Arsenal fightback and prove he is worth the big bucks after all.

Ozil scored, provided an assist for one of the best goals you will see all season, and also made one of the best passes you will see all season.

Even two-goal supersub Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was put firmly in the shade by Ozil’s brilliance.

If this is what you get from giving Ozil the captain’s armband, then maybe they should make him Arsenal skipper permanently.

Arsenal gave him a £350,000-a-week contract in January and there have been times since when it looked as if he had switched off after getting his big pay deal.

But man-of-the-match Ozil showed he was worth every penny as he oozed class. When he finally went off, he was substituted to a standing ovation, his night’s work well and truly done.

Arsenal’s fabulous fightback from going a goal down lifted the roof off the Emirates as Unai Emery’s men made it 10 straight wins in all competitions.

And when they are playing with such flair and fluid, beautiful football then maybe, just maybe, they can be title contenders after all.

Emery knew he had big shoes to fill after replacing Arsene Wenger but, on the day the former Arsenal manager celebrated his 69th birthday, it was a performance that rolled back the years to the glory days.

Comebacks and strong second halves have been a feature of this remarkable winning run which says much about Arsenal’s determination and spirit.

Leicester were much the better team at the start, their pace and lightning counterattacks too much for Arsenal’s frail defence. Harry Maguire saw a header brilliantly saved by keeper Bernd Leno, and Rob Holding got away with a blatant handball in the box.

It felt like a matter of time before the Foxes went ahead and they got their reward after 31 minutes.

Ben Chilwell charged forward, took the ball in his stride and his low cross was deflected off Hector Bellerin past Leno and into the net.

But that sparked Arsenal into life and it was Ozil, wearing the armband from the start for the first time, who led the charge.

He spread the ball wide to Bellerin and the German then sprinted into the box before steering past keeper Kasper Schmeichel moments before half time.

The Gunners looked a different side after the break and despite Wilfred Ndidi heading against the bar there was only going to be one winner.

Aubameyang came on after 61 minutes and almost immediately put Arsenal ahead. Ozil played an incredible pass to release Bellerin and his low cross was turned in by the striker.

Four minutes later, the hosts produced a goal of sheer beauty. Ozil dummied, Alexandre Lacazette’s return pass found Ozil, who clipped the ball over Schmeichel for Aubameyang to steer home.

Without doubt, it was one of Ozil’s best-ever performances in an Arsenal shirt.