Arsene Wenger says Mesut Ozil has added a new string to his bow after the playmaker once more showed defensive vigour in Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Huddersfield.
Though a goal and two assists were the headline returns from the World Cup winner, it did not go unnoticed that Ozil applied himself at the other end of the pitch with the same dedication he showed in last week’s north London derby win.
For much of the four years and change since Ozil arrived from Real Madrid, he has been dogged by accusations that he is a passenger in defence.
Wenger hinted that those critiques may have had an impact on the German international, telling Standard Sport: "Everybody wants to be acknowledged for his quality and judgements are sometimes harsh in a footballer’s job.
"Overall I believe the majority of people here love him and always loved him."
He added: "Nobody has to convince you that Ozil is a great football player.
"He added something people want to see from him. Against Spurs, tonight again [he showed] that he can fight, that he can come back and win the ball.
"Once people see that you know they are behind you. Everyone in the stadium knows that he is a great football player. At the moment he is showing that he can fight.
"Our job is to encourage people to fight, of course. He always covered the distances in the game, maybe he’s at an age where he’s mature and understands what is important."
Like the rest of the Arsenal side Ozil went somewhat off the boil after Alexandre Lacazette’s third-minute opener, which ought to have set them up for a comfortable lead.
But as Huddersfield’s energy reserves waned in the second half the 29-year-old exerted his dominance, squaring for Olivier Giroud to double Arsenal’s advantage, crossing for Alexis Sanchez to net the third and putting the finishing touch on a fourth.
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Despite his recent upswing in form it will doubtless be some time before Ozil convinces his most strident critics that he does not go missing in Arsenal’s biggest games.
Wenger insisted that was not the case, adding: "When you look at the percentage of possession during a game, no matter the game he wants the ball.
"He never hides behind an opponent and doesn’t really want the ball. He’s always available.
"Of course when you play football you have nine other outfield players and if you are dominated you are dominated and touch fewer balls. But when we win the ball he always wants the ball."