Arsenal: Mesut Ozil’s secret formula continuing to take shape

Arsenal needed to see Mesut Ozil stay in top form against Manchester United and he did, despite the disappointing result. Which is certainly a good thing.

It’s rare to see a match completely dominated on the pitch by one team, yet have the other team look so completely dominant in the scoreline. But such was the case as Arsenal to Manchester United 3-1 at the Emirates.

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It’s not a result to make the heart flutter, and there is no consolation to be found in minor positive pickings from individual performances. But that doesn’t mean that they should be completely ignored.

I have already highlighted how important it is that Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette are forming such a solid partnership, as was carried on against United for the only goal the Gunners could slip past David “there have to be three of him” de Gea.

But perhaps the most positive takeaway, in the short term, is that, even in the face of a loss, a frustrating loss, no less, Mesut Ozil was just as big of an influence as he was against Tottenham and against Huddersfield. Two matches that obviously had a much happier result.

It wasn’t in the numbers, necessarily, that I draw this conclusion. Yes, he created his usual four chances – which was second to Alexis Sanchez‘s five – but it isn’t that that won my ever-skeptical approval.

The German maestro has two very clear moods in his Arsenal kit. He has his mood where he looks like a walking dead. And he has his moods where he looks like a fierce, determined individual that is hellbent on making a difference.

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It was the latter against United, which accounts for three straight matches where he has carried such a demeanor. And the best thing, as alluded to earlier, is that these are the kinds of matches that have traditionally sucked the life out of Ozil.

But against United, he was seen making rash challenges, shouting at refs, team mates and opponents and making it perfectly clear that he was not happy with the proceedings thus far and was rather displeased that his best efforts weren’t enough. That is an Ozil we have not seen in some time. I’d argue we haven’t seen it in well over a season, perhaps even more. Maybe ever.

This is also two games on the trot where Ozil has been one of, if not the only Gunner to register over 100 touches. Indicating that, not only is his attitude in the right place, but his intentions are as well.

Three in a row gives me greater confidence that somehow, someway, Ozil has turned a corner and for whatever reason, has discovered his motivation at last. This is dicey to bet on, and I certainly wouldn’t put money on it, but at the very least we have a foundation to build off of now. We can conclusively say that there is a pretty clear correlation between Ozil’s body language and his impact on the pitch.

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And for that, despite the loss, we should be pretty grateful.