Arsenal: Mesut Ozil banishes Alexis Sanchez memory in a flash

Mesut Ozil returned to the Arsenal team in their 4-0 win against Crystal Palace on Saturday, putting in a performance that banishes the memory of Alexis Sanchez in a flash.

The Alexis Sanchez saga continues to drag on. It is somewhat tiresome, with many just desperate for it to end. And, seemingly, that end is imminent. Jose Mourinho said that it was ‘so close’ after his side’s narrow win against Burnley.

Catch the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal podcast here

But for Arsenal, they are ready to move on. While many fans may, justifiably, bemoan the impending absence of an attacker who contributed 24 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League alone last year, in the 4-1 dismantling of Crystal Palace on Saturday, there were signs that Arsene Wenger’s side can not only survive without the Chilean but actually flourish.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 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
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

After the match, when asked about his side’s performance, especially the one put together in the first half, Wenger was keen to highlight the speed at which they played:

"“We played our real game in the first half, real pace and real combination. The speed of our game at the start was good. We are the only team to beat Palace in their last 12 games.”"

Now, it would be a little foolish or optimistic to state that that effect is because of one player in particular. But it is no coincidence that Arsenal’s attacking play sped up when Mesut Ozil returned to the fray after an ailing and obscure knee injury.

Ozil was magnificent against Palace. His deft little flicks and layoffs added an element of purposeful grace and elegance that Arsenal had been painfully lacking. His play was not just beautiful to watch, but it was extremely effective. Take, for example, the Gunners’ fourth goal, which was exquisitely finished by the sweeping right foot of Alexandre Lacazette.

Ozil touched the ball on six separate occasions in the build-up to that goal. He played passes with Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka. He then partook in a lovely one-two with Alex Iwobi, sliding past a Palace defender in the process. He then repeated that move with Jack Wilshere, this time splitting two more Palace defenders, before backheeling the ball perfectly into position for Lacazette.

During that sumptuously slaloming move, any memory of Sanchez was emphatically wiped away. His influence on this team did not seam important. His influence on this team did not seem as if it was actually so. His influence on this team was even questioned as a hindrance, not a help.

Next: Arsenal Vs Palace: 5 things we learned

That may be a step too far. But the point still stands: Mesut Ozil banished any rose-tinted view of his former partner-in-crime. Long may it continue.