Thursday 20 October 2016 12:44, UK
Mesut Ozil scored the first hat-trick of his career as Arsenal stormed to a 6-0 win over Ludogorets at the Emirates Stadium. The playmaker has added cutting edge to his game, writes Nick Wright, and the Gunners are feeling the benefits...
At the end of August, when Mesut Ozil headed Arsenal's third goal in their 3-1 win over Watford at Vicarage Road, Arsene Wenger laid down a challenge. "We know he can give assists but we hope he can get the goals," he said. "We want 10 to 15 goals from him, plus the chances he creates."
Ozil had equalled a Premier League record with 19 assists in the previous campaign, but eight goals in 45 league and cup appearances represented a modest total - despite being his best yet for Arsenal. Wenger was convinced that the German had more to offer in front of goal, and recent evidence suggests Ozil was listening.
He struck his second of the season when Arsenal dismantled Chelsea in September, and there was a stunning third on his birthday against Swansea. The Premier League's most creative player was finally playing with a cutting edge of his own, and he made his most emphatic statement yet against Ludogorets on Wednesday night.
Arsenal played with the scintillating speed that has typified their recent performances, cutting the brittle visitors open at will and running riot in the second half. They were already three goals up when Ozil got his first, brilliantly cushioning Santi Cazorla's 40-yard pass and finishing coolly beyond the hapless Ludogorets goalkeeper.
The touch and balance were outstanding, and Ozil showed his newfound predatory instincts for his second and third goals. Substitute Lucas Perez provided the ammunition, first from the left-hand side, then from the right., and Ozil finished the night with three goals from three shots on target. He is now just two short of his total for the whole of last season.
It has been quite a transformation, but what's changed? "He looks like he has got a taste for scoring goals," said Arsene Wenger in his post-match press conference. "He goes behind more. Before he only liked to come towards the ball and provide, but we want him to be the provider and the scorer. It looks like he's slowly moving towards a better balance."
Ludogorets' high defensive line certainly gave Ozil plenty of opportunities to play off the shoulder of the last defender on Wednesday night, but the biggest factor this season has been Arsenal's change of set-up. Wenger talked up Olivier Giroud's importance to the side earlier this week, but the truth is that the Gunners are flourishing without him.
While Giroud plays as a targetman who rarely strays from the centre-forward position, Alexis Sanchez interprets the role very differently. The Chilean is naturally inclined to drop deep and drift to the flanks, and his movement creates space for others to take centre stage. It's enabled Theo Walcott to hit eight goals already, and it's helped Ozil flourish too.
Ozil is spending more time in goalscoring positions, and while his numbers for chances created are down this season, his numbers for shots are rising all the time. Others are picking up the creative mantle and, as Wenger said, it's all about striking the right balance. Ozil is now averaging a goal every 132.5 minutes, compared to one every 471.1 minutes last season.
There was a reminder of his passing ability, too. Arsenal had survived some nervy moments when he went flying down the left flank shortly before half-time, but with the entire Ludogorets anticipating a cross into the box, Ozil cut the ball back for the unmarked Walcott to score Arsenal's second. It was his first assist of the season, and it sapped Ludogorets' morale.
There are far tougher tests ahead, of course, but Ozil's second-half hat-trick capped an excellent night for Arsenal. It was their biggest victory since a 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers in February 2012, and it extended their winning run to seven games, during which they have scored 23 goals and conceded just three.
They are numbers to delight Wenger, but it's Ozil's contribution which should be causing him the most joy. Arsenal have lacked a goalscoring midfielder in recent seasons, but with Wenger's challenge ringing in his ears, Ozil is stepping into the void.
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