Arsenal Vs Burnley: Mesut Ozil impresses in unexpected ways

Mesut Ozil started as captain in Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Burnley on Saturday. He played nicely, but where he really impressed was in his communication and leadership. That, I was not expecting.

It has not been the most positive of periods for Mesut Ozil. Oddly, for a player of inexorable, majestic ability, he has been through many of these periods before. This, sadly enough, is not an unusual experience for the oft-misunderstood Arsenal midfielder.

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But it was a low point on Wednesday night when he was dropped out of the 18-man matchday squad for what Unai Emery was intent on making clear were ‘tactical reasons’. He has suffered back spasms in the past, which many have questioned as being suspicious. Rarely has a manager been so purposeful and bullish, however, when explaining why Ozil is not involved. The message was sent loud and clear.

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On Saturday, Ozil would make his reply. Emery not only decided to reinstate Ozil to the starting line-up for the 3-1 win over Burnley, but he handed him the captain’s armband, thrusting the responsibility of leadership squarely on the shoulders that often slump and slouch, not stand firm against adversity. Ozil responded to the challenge. He stepped up. But not in the way that would have been expected.

Ozil did create two wonderful moments for two wonderful goals: A pass to Sead Kolasinac, who was not even in the picture when the ball was released, led to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s opening goal, and then a swerving dribble and cute reverse pass into Alex Iwobi ended the match in the final minutes. But he was not his inspiringly creative self throughout. He did complete 94% of his passes and offered an amount of control and conduction. But the artistry and unpredictability were missing.

That, though, does not mean that Ozil did not impress. He did. But he did so in extremely subversive ways. As captain, Ozil acted as he should. Demonstrative, communicative, resolute and determined, he worked hard for his team, pressing at key moments, tracking runs into his own half, undertaking the dirty duties that Emery demands of all his players.

And he was also extremely talkative. Rarely did the ball leave play and Ozil just meandered around. He was gesticulating to his teammates, barking instructions to Bernd Leno in the 87th minute when the goalkeeper punted the ball back aimlessly to the Burnley defence, he would act as a peacemaker at some of the more intense moments, he was regularly in contact with the referee, keeping a thumb on the heartbeat of a rather fiery and ferocious game.

Ozil was doing things that a leader would do. That may not seem especially groundbreaking, given that he was the captain of the team and Emery had placed him in a position of leadership. But Ozil has been so frequently and fiercely criticised for his lack of leadership, his laziness of character, his lethargic body language, that this was a very welcome surprise.

Ozil is most certainly not known for these qualities. And yet, here, he embodied the very best of them. He has not yet righted the wrongs of previous weeks. He still has plenty of convincing to do but this was a most wonderful step in the right direction. Ozil impressed, but in the most unexpected of ways.