Arsenal Vs Bayern Munich: Mesut Ozil’s Reckoning

Recently, Mesut Ozil has toiled. As Arsenal take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League, it is reckoning time as the German seeks to prove his worth.

It was February 19th, 2014. Arsenal, having enjoyed a first half of the season that saw them rise to the top of Premier League off the back of a red-hot Aaron Ramsey, entered the home Champions League tie against Bayern Munich with slim hopes of victory.

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When the Welshman suffered an untimely calf injury, the Gunners suffered their annual winter slump. That was when Bayern came calling. They needed someone to step up and all eyes were on Mesut Ozil. The £42 million signing was yet to ignite his North London, spluttering with indifferent success throughout his first season in England, but could this be his time to shine?

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Nearly. After eight minutes, Arsenal were dominating their German giants. Ozil was at the centre of all great things and then his moment came. With a shake and a shimmy, he cut past Jerome Boateng before being clumsily brought down for a penalty. He then stepped up to convert the penalty, only to feebly place the ball above the diving Manuel Neuer, at which the shot-stopper thrust a hand into the air to prevent the initial positive signs becoming anything more.

It was a moment that has manifested itself in different forms at different times since. Ozil is repeatedly anonymous in the big games, often playing on the peripheries, rather than being the central figure that he was bought to be. And now with a little over 12 months remaining on his current deal, his long-term future is far from certain and his status far from defined.

Arsenal now face the team which exposed Ozil and his mental weakness, travelling to the Allianz Arena to face Bayern in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie. It is a time of reckoning for the attacking midfielder, a time in which he is in need of a substantial display after recent weeks in which his toils have brought about much deserved criticism.

Ozil was unable to unpick a disciplined Watford defence over a week ago – a game which would have given the Gunners the upper-hand in their chase down of Chelsea – and then was missing for the title-defining trip to Stamford Bridge just a few days later.

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Ozil has not performed in the big games since his move nearly four years ago. He goes quiet, shrinking under the limelight, failing to influence games with his wonderful mind like when facing the lesser teams. On Wednesday, Arsenal face the biggest of them all and Ozil is in need of a dominating display.