Aston Villa vs Arsenal: Mesut Ozil shows just why Arsene Wenger rates him

Ozil watch: How did Arsenal's £42.5m man get on?

(GETTY IMAGES)

Was he playing in his right position?

With Arsène Wenger reverting to 4-2-3-1, Özil was back in the No 10 role where he made his name with Werder Bremen – and where Piers Morgan, Ian Wright et al had been calling for him to start. Showed why as took Danny Welbeck’s through-ball and scored his first Arsenal goal away from the Emirates.

Did he look committed to the cause?

Özil is not Tony Adams; with his languid style and slender frame, he will never look as obviously committed as the roll-your-sleeves-up type but he worked hard in his own way, dropping deep to collect the ball, taking up decent positions and even chasing one lost cause down by the corner flag.

How did he interact with team-mates?

Spent the first half-hour in the middle third looking for the ball but came to life along with his team, supplying clever passes for the forwards and linking up particularly well with Welbeck. Returned the compliment after his goal by setting Welbeck up for the second with a brilliant low ball across goal.

Does he have a future at Arsenal?

Wenger insisted on Friday that he would pay the £42m again for Özil and yesterday’s evidence suggests he has a talent that warrants perseverance, his restored swagger summed up by a wonderful piece of skill when he let the ball run through his legs to wrong-foot Philippe Senderos.