LONDON. – Mesut Ozil was beamed across the giant screens inside Dortmund’s big yellow box of noise before the game. He had been given an electronic makeover, tendons lit up in green to give him a robotic, other-worldly feel.
It was part of an advert for a new adidas “Predator” boot. A predator? Not really. It will take more than a few fancy sci-fi graphics to turn Ozil into a predator. It is not his style.

He has not scored a goal for Arsenal since April. He has never scored away from home for the club.

Out of this world? Not really.

Robotic? Not in a good way.

“Instinct Takes Over” promised adidas. But inertia took hold. The game kicked off and Arsenal froze. Little more than an hour later, Ozil was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with the Londoners already two down.

During that time he had never quite got to the pace of the game.

It was not only Ozil. In fairness, other high-profile team-mates were struggling to cope; overwhelmed by the frenetic tempo and intensity of Dortmund.

Arsenal could not get the controlled possession in midfield which might allow Ozil or Alexis Sanchez to sparkle. But there are times when you look to the big players to produce something special to change the rhythm of the game.

Sanchez has done it at times this season. Ozil has not. Arsene Wenger must have hoped this would be the occasion when his £42.5million record produced him a flash of magic to give his team a grip on a difficult game. Last season, when Ozil was faltering after a promising start in North London, Wenger claimed this would be the season when he came into his own.

He would, the manager claimed, be the Player of the Year. However, there are no signs his Arsenal career is about to transform.

He is drifting down the path of Juan Sebastian Veron, unquestionably gifted but perhaps not cut out for the way an English team want to play. – Mailonline.

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