It’s official – Ozil is back.
Arsenal are back to winning ways in the Premier League after a superb performance to come from behind and thrash Everton 5-2 at Goodison Park.
Wayne Rooney rolled back the years to give the Toffees the lead in the first half, but Nacho Monreal got forward from defence to fire in a well-taken equaliser five minutes before the break.
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Watch: Mesut Ozil continues remarkable Arsenal record with fine team goal against Everton
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Goals from Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Aaron Ramsey turned it into a walkover for Arsenal in the second half, with Everton all but giving up on the game once they went behind and lost Idrissa Gueye to a red card.
Oumar Niasse did provide one bright moment for the home side as he pulled one back in stoppage time, but Arsenal immediately hit back again through a fine individual effort from Alexis Sanchez.
Man of the match
With a fine headed goal to put Arsenal in front, and with an assist to put the third goal on a plate for Lacazette, it’s hard to look past Ozil this afternoon.
The Germany international was at his influential best for the Gunners from start to finish, pulling the strings from attacking midfield and carving Everton open time and time again.
Still not convinced? This stat pretty much sums it up…
The last player in the Premier League to create seven chances from open play in a single game was Mesut Özil in Dec 2016
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) October 22, 2017
Flop of the match
This may have ended in a big win, but there’s no escape for Granit Xhaka here…
The Switzerland international was badly at fault for the first goal, making it two weeks in a row he’s made an error leading directly to a goal.
Found dwelling on the ball just outside his own box, Xhaka was far too weak as the challenge came in from Idrissa Gueye, who robbed the Arsenal ace and gave Rooney the chance to guide the ball past Petr Cech.
As already noted, Arsenal fans were not a happy bunch and called for him to be replaced after a poor first half performance overall. What has Jack Wilshere go to do to get a start?
Stat of the match
A century of goals for Arsenal against Everton. Kudos.
100 – Arsenal have become the first team to score 100 @PremierLeague goals against a single opponent (Everton). Century.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 22, 2017
Player ratings
Everton: Pickford 6, Williams 5, Jagielka 5, Keane 5, Gueye 5, Vlasic 6, Sigurdsson 5, Kenny 6, Baines 6, Rooney 7, Calvert-Lewin 6 / Subs: Davies 6, Lookman 5, Niasse 6
Arsenal: Cech 5, Koscielny 7, Mertesacker 6, Monreal 7, Xhaka 5, Ramsey 8, Bellerin 7, Kolasinac 7, Sanchez 9, Ozil 9, Lacazette 8 / Subs: Coquelin 6, Wilshere 7
Reaction
The birthday wishes were out for Arsene Wenger…
Happy birthday, boss!#EFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/f3oDo3JUnf
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) October 22, 2017
Meanwhile the mood is pretty bleak at Everton…
Dead men walking. pic.twitter.com/yDsFkLBFxg
— Football__Tweet (@Football__Tweet) October 22, 2017
Bill Kenwright with the perfect poker face… ?pic.twitter.com/i8XkbuWQQh
— BigOdds (@BigOddsGB) October 22, 2017
V weird atmosphere at Goodison. Funereal silence, odd shout of anger plus mocking laughter. Then surprisingly few boos, even claps at end
— Matt Dickinson (@DickinsonTimes) October 22, 2017
And there’s no love lost between Arsenal fans and Troy Deeney…
Hi @T_Deeney stick that up your pipes.. you seem to have done a dissapearing act.
— Darren (@DarrenArsenal1) October 22, 2017
did the Arsenal have the cojones today? ? @T_Deeney
— M S M E_ (@MissEdwards_) October 22, 2017