Arsenal: Kevin De Bruyne pushes ahead of Mesut Ozil

Arsenal and Mesut Ozil were left flat-footed against the superiority of Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester City. It’s a changing of the guard.

Arsenal didn’t get as badly shown up by Manchester City as they may tell you. I saw a lot of promise from the Gunners, and a lot of potential to fill the deficit. It was, unfortunately, largely upset by poor officiating, which should honestly come as no surprise.

What was a surprise, however, was the deficit between superstars. Arsenal’s combo of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil was abysmal. The worst they have ever been together. They lost the ball approximately seven times more than they created chances.

Meanwhile, on the other end, Kevin De Bruyne was a dream. He was a midfield masterclass. And in the process, it became clear who the better midfielder was. At this point, if you’re still camp Ozil, you’re deceiving yourself.

The argument has always been that Ozil creates more. And that’s fine. He does. But that’s the only edge he has. De Bruyne does every other facet of the game better.

Not just that, but in a crucial game like this, Ozil, the creative genius, showed up with zero chances created and zero shots on target. If you are “the creative guy” and you hold the title of best attacking midfielder based on chances created alone and you come into a match like this and fall flat on your face, that’s inexcusable.

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Even when he was at his worst, Ozil would chip in three or so chances. That’s what kept him in the conversation for best attacking midfielders in the game.

But De Bruyne was so much more for City. He may have only created two chances, but he scored a clutch goal that – I’m sorry – Ozil would have never scored, and he won the ball back eight times for the Citizens. Eight times. Ozil has won the ball back fourteen times all year (eight tackles, six interceptions).

I get it, that isn’t Ozil’s game. Creation is his game. So again, let me say that when creation is the only thing you do well, you can’t create literally nothing while the other half of this comparison is having the time of his life out there.

Next: 5 Things Learned Against Manchester City

I hate to admit this, but you have to tip your hat when the occasion arises, and it has. Kevin De Bruyne is the better attacking midfielder when compared to Mesut Ozil. That can always change, but I won’t hold my breath.

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