Garth Crooks has defended Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil and claimed that if the Gunners dispense of players of the German’s ilk, they can ‘forget about titles’.
The former Real Madrid man has come in for - and bit back at - heavy criticism from pundits, fans and former Arsenal players for his lacklustre performances this season.
However, his display during the 5-2 win at Everton on Sunday, starting alongside Alexandre Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez for the first time this season, had many proclaiming he was back to his best.
After a tough start to the season, Crooks named Ozil in his team of the week, while also questioning the criticism he’s had to put up with.
Crooks wrote in his BBC Sport column: "What I can't understand is why Ozil has become Arsenal's whipping boy over the years?
"I know he can be temperamental and is prone to sulk but he is not the first player to behave in this way and he certainly won't be the last.
"The Germany international seemed to carry the can for Arsenal's defeat at Watford recently and it even prompted a suggestion from one pundit that Ozil's performance may signal the end of his career at Arsenal.
"At this point I have to ask myself, 'how can a player of Ozil's obvious class be so easily dismissed?'
In Pictures | Everton vs Arsenal | 22/10/2017
"I have always been of the opinion that the best teams tend to have the best players and usually fans want to keep them. So why does Ozil get such a bad rap from some Arsenal supporters?
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"He was outstanding against Everton and, while his critics will say you have to wait too long to see a top-class performance from him, I would respond that when he does perform it's almost certainly worth the wait.
"What is clear is that if Arsenal start dispensing with players like Ozil then they can forget about titles."
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