Arsenal: Mesut Ozil Floundering In Eden Hazard’s Wake

Mesut Ozil was outclassed by Eden Hazard on Saturday, again showing weakness in the big games. Arsenal’s star is floundering in the Belgian’s wake.

The very best players in the world are able to perform at their best when it matters most. Cliche, yes. But also true. It is a talent that the great Arsenal players of the past boasted. Thierry Henry, Patrick Viera, Sol Campbell. The side of the early ’00s was bursting with big-game players.

Related Story: Arsenal: 30 Greatest Players In History

A successful team is, while assembled with the intention of a working collectively as a team, often successful because of the influences and the results of a few key players. For Arsene Wenger and his team right now, if they were to win a title, those players would be Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

While the latter’s effort and consistency cannot be questioned, Ozil does not have the same big game character that many of the historic great possess. It was evidently clear during Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Chelsea. Eden Hazard was magnificent for the likely champions, and when asked about the Belgian’s scintillating display, Glenn Hoddle could not help but compare it to the toils of Ozil during the same 90 minutes:

"“Given that Chelsea are so good as a unit, it’s hard to single out an individual, but Eden Hazard was outstanding on Saturday. When you play the big games, you want your big players to step up. That’s exactly what he did. The contrast with Mesut Ozil was unavoidable. The bigger the game, the better Hazard plays. For Ozil, despite his record as a World Cup winner and a La Liga champion at Real Madrid, you feel it’s the opposite.”"

Ozil has struggled against the bigger teams throughout his time in North London. Particularly when playing away from the comforts of the Emirates, the German fails to engineer the same magical control that he has against the lesser sides. Perhaps it is a mental issue, perhaps it is the lesser possession that he and his side must endure against the best teams, perhaps it is the calibre of the opponent, but for some reason, Ozil does not step up when Arsenal need him most.

Hazard, on the other hand, is someone who plays at his best when the pressure is on and the stakes are high. He not only dominates the worse teams but also heavily influences games against fellow title chasers.

Next: Arsenal Vs Chelsea: 5 Things We Learned

Saturday was yet more proof of Ozil’s troubles and Hazard’s tyrades on the biggest stage. Hazard is a key reason as to why Chelsea will likely win the league. Ozil may be a big reason as to why Arsenal will not.