Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Atletico Madrid: 5 key players to watch — Stage is set

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League quarter final leg one match between Arsenal FC and CSKA Moskva at Emirates Stadium on April 5, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League quarter final leg one match between Arsenal FC and CSKA Moskva at Emirates Stadium on April 5, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Mesut Ozil
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 05: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League quarter final leg one match between Arsenal FC and CSKA Moskva at Emirates Stadium on April 5, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

1. Mesut Ozil

The best players turn up when it matters most. Cristiano Ronaldo and his Champions League exploits. Lionel Messi and his brilliance. Mohamed Salah this season with Liverpool. For Mesut Ozil, the question of timing is still one that presides.

Rarely do his best performance align with when they are needed most. He has improved markedly in this area recently, but even this season, there are numerous examples of when the German slipped into the shadows of the game just when his team need him to stand in the light. But Ozil has the chance to make up for them on Thursday.

If ever there was a game when Arsenal need their ingenious attacker, it’s this one. At 1-1, needing to score to avenge the away goal that Antoine Griezmann nabbed a week prior, the guile, nous, and creativity of Ozil to unpick one of the best-organised defences in the world will be invaluable.

Next: Arsenal Vs Atletico Madrid: Predicted starting XI

It is difficult to see how Arsenal can win this game without Ozil playing a major part. He is integral to everything that they do, especially offensively. They will need him on Thusrday.