Stan Collymore described Arsenal star Mesut Ozil as World Class, before claiming he is not a match-winner, but can he be both?
The former Nottingham Forest and Liverpool striker was live on BBC Radio 5 Live yesterday for Arsenal’s 3PM kick-off against Middlesbrough, and picked out Ozil for some constructive criticism.
The former footballer claimed that Ozil was amongst the best in the world, but lacks the ability to turn the game on its head, and win the game through his own brilliance alone.
Collymore said: “I think he is a world class talent, but does he have the personality in games like today to puff his chest out, Maradona style and say I’m going to win the game alone. I don’t think he does.”
He was of course talking after a disappointing 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough, in which our opponents raised their game to a level they had yet to produce in the Premier League this term, and it is easy to criticise someone after an unconventional result.
To claim that a player is World Class without having the ability to win the game single-handed, is simply untrue, but if he is simply stating that Ozil is not the type of player to dribble around every player before scoring the goal, well that simply isn’t our midfield maestro.
Ozil is yet to bag himself an assist in the league this term, although the change in system due to the move of Alexis Sanchez to centre-forward, has allowed him to get further forward and has returned with some delicious goals, and plenty of them.
Do you agree that Mesut Ozil is World Class, and has the ability to take the game by the scruff of the neck?
Pat J