'Superb' Arsenal star Mesut Ozil shines in Everton demolition as Martin Keown backtracks on criticism

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James Benge23 October 2017

Mesut Ozil had his critics on the back foot after his man of the match display in Arsenal’s 5-2 thrashing of Everton at Goodison Park.

The German scored one and laid on another for Alexandre Lacazette as Arsenal picked up their first away win of the season in emphatic fashion, moving level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea in the process.

Though many will reserve judgement until Ozil puts together a consistent run of form, something which has eluded the 29-year-old since the early months of last season, Arsene Wenger was toasting a much-needed return to form by his playmaker.

And in light of Manchester United’s interest in Ozil, whose contract expires at the end of the season, he noted that the World Cup winner was not playing like a man who wants a way out of Arsenal.

“He was superb,” Wenger said. “Agile, quick, intelligent. Always at the service of the team with his quality of his passing and when he is at that level, he is an exceptional football player.

“We live in an environment where we have to deal with the news and the players and myself have only always one response, which is what’s happening on the football pitch.

“When you see Mesut on the football pitch like he is today, enjoying his game like he is today, it’s difficult to believe these kind of things [speculation over his future].”

Everton 2-5 Arsenal_ Arsene Wenger press conference

Wenger had also pointed to Ozil’s ongoing recovery from a knee injury as a mitigating circumstance behind his struggles in last week’s 2-1 win at Watford, when the German missed a chance to hand the Gunners a two-goal lead.

Keown has been outspoken in his condemnation of Ozil in recent weeks, accusing the playmaker of having “downed tools” and mentally left the club already.

But while Arsenal great Keown wants to see more consistency from the playmaker he admitted that Ozil had shown the “conviction” that he had doubted.

“I've been very critical, we're nine games in and suddenly he has turned up,” Keown said on Match of the Day 2. “He knitted everything together.

“It was a different head that he played with today. That was a goal with great quality and conviction, he headed it with conviction and I've questioned that.”