Arsenal Vs Everton: Mesut Ozil the record-setting genius

Mesut Ozil was truly brilliant against Everton. He broke several records this season and was integral to Arsenal’s blistering attacking display. At his best, he is a real genius.

Arsenal were blistering in their 5-2 win over Everton on Sunday. For all of the Toffees struggles, which seemingly point towards an impending Ronald Koeman sacking, it was a fluid and cutting performance from their visitors that established the disparity between these two sides.

The dynamic movement of the Gunners’ attackers, especially off the ball, was what was especially potent. Everton were unable to deal with the ever-moving point of attack. Because the ball was shifted in and out of the midfield third with such tempo, combined with runs for the man on the ball to find, the Everton defence were continually on the move, meaning that they could not stay positionally disciplined as individuals, and connected and cohesive as a unit.

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When a defence becomes fractured and space grows in and around the penalty area, Mesut Ozil flourishes. His spatial awareness, his ability to find and exploit the pockets that open up in between the opposing defence and midfield, and then his vision, his creativity, and his technical skill, mean that Ozil can slip the attentions of defenders, before playing those sliding, penetrative, incisive through passes that are so difficult to defend against.

And that is exactly what Ozil was able to do against Everton. Because of the way in which Koeman set up, with just Idrissa Gueye shielding a slow and unagile back three, Ozil found great joy slipping inside from the free-roaming inside-right forward role that he was stationed in. Gueye was helpless to be overrun, with Alexis Sanchez doing the same on the opposite wing and Aaron Ramsey bursting forward from a deeper position, and Ozil had his way with the Everton defence.

In the first half alone, Ozil created six chances. In total, he created eight chances, the most of any player in a single Premier League game this season. He also added an assist to his attacking endeavours, giving him the most assists in the league since his debut in September 2013.

This was a record-setting day for Ozil. It was a day in which he was at his superlative best. His sumptuous passing, his gliding movement, his brain ticking over as he breaks down what he sees before him.

And when Ozil plays at his best, Arsenal begin to breathe. Not only did Ozil create as many chances, score the goal that he did, and set up Alexandre Lacazette for his first away goal of the season, but he also completed 50 of his 56 pass attempts, maintaining an 89% pass completion rate.

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Having said all of that, these are not the games that Ozil will dispel his doubters in. These are the games that he has always excelled in. Those tests are yet to come.

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