Arsene Wenger saluted Mesut Ozil’s performance for Arsenal in their 4-1 Europa League dismantling of CSKA Moscow, saying his display is precisely what football lovers want to see.
Although Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette gained the plaudits with their respective braces, everything went through Ozil and he caught the eye the most on Thursday.
The German won the penalty for Lacazette’s first goal of the day, before then supplying the chipped pass for Ramsey’s second.
Ozil also set up Arsenal’s final goal, picking out Lacazette with a well-placed cut-back, and Wenger was appreciative of the former Real Madrid man’s display.
“Ozil enjoys and I hope you enjoy,” Wenger said to reporters in his post-match news conference.
“You see a great football player. When you love football, that’s what you want to see.”
Wenger also reserved praise for CSKA who, although ultimately on the end of a comprehensive defeat, did cause Arsenal problems and the manager acknowledged that.
“It was a spectacular first half played at a high pace, but [it was] uncomfortable,” he added. “They were a side who are technically very good.
“We scored some great goals. At half-time, at 4-1, the target was not to concede anymore and score another. We did the first part of the job in the second half, but not the second.
“CSKA is a good team, a good technical level. They’re quick going forward and gave us problems in the first half especially.
“They’re very mobile, intelligent with their use of the ball and they played in a very offensive style.
“We are not used to seeing that here in the Premier League – teams come and play in their half. They had a go at us. It was uncomfortable.”
