How should we rate Mesut Ozil’s first season in English football?

Arsenal FC’s long wait for a trophy finally ended this season, and the victory in the FA Cup final was celebrated rapturously by the fans. It was a fitting end to a rollercoaster of a season for the club, which saw them break the club transfer record, top the Premier League table for the most days and then suffer a massive slump of form along with a spate of injuries that saw them end the season in fourth.

The transfer record was smashed to bring in Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid, in a £42.5 million deal for the Gunners. Ozil, with a string of impressive performances for both Real Madrid and Germany last season, is considered one of the best playmakers in the game right now. Since his transfer to Real in 2010, he has consistently been a first team player and a major creative force, producing 10 goals and 29 assists in the 2012-13 season. He has been regularly praised for his control of the game and his vision on the ball, regularly playing passes that cut open the opposition defense and finding his teammates in threatening positions. His movement off the ball is also something that has been praised by former managers including Jose Mourinho.

The move was enthusiastically received by Arsenal fans and Ozil got off to an auspicious start, providing an assist for Olivier Giroud in his debut game, as Arsenal won against Sunderland 3-0. His first home game against Stoke City saw him create all three goals and he was thoroughly lauded for his passing and vision. Questions had been raised about his stamina and ability to cope with the pace of the English game, but these early games showed that he was more than capable of playing his fluent passing game in the English league as well.

His first goal came in a Champions League fixture against Napoli, in a game where he dominated the midfield and Arsenal ran out comfortable winners. He opened his account in the Premier league with a brace against Norwich City. His ability to take the game to the opposition and to find the net on a regular basis had already endeared him to the Arsenal faithful, and as Arsenal continued their fine run of form into December, Ozil was at the center of it all, a lethal presence in the attacking midfield role. This period also saw him shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or award.

Up till then, Ozil had been in great form and was a constant threat to the opposition. But a 6-3 defeat at the Etihad to eventual champions Manchester City and a goalless draw at home against Chelsea saw Arsenal and Ozil in particular questioned. That he disappears in big games was a charge brought against him before, and he did not really help his case with a clash with teammate Mertesacker after he refused to acknowledge the travelling support after the loss to City. Ozil then suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out of a couple of games.

This started a slump in form for Arsenal. With Ramsey and Theo Walcott also ruled out with a long term injury, they lacked the attacking bite that they had shown in the first half of the season, and even when Ozil returned in the New Year, he struggled to perform at the same level as before. This period included a 5-1 humbling at Liverpool, in which Ozil was again singled out for heavy criticism, followed by a goalless draw at home to struggling United in addition to the 1-0 loss earlier in the season at Old Trafford, another game in which Ozil had underperformed.  Arsenal then hosted Munich at the Emirates in a game that they lost 2-0, after a promising start. Ozil produced a brilliant piece of play early on to win a penalty, but then failed to convert it, and that further built the reputation of him being unable to keep his composure in key fixtures. It was also the second penalty he had missed in the Champions League this season.

Ozil’s season was curtailed as he picked up a hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw against Bayern. That ruled him out of Arsenal’s crucial games against rivals Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton. Ozil returned in a 3-0 victory against Hull in April, but by then the title was already out of Arsenal’s reach.

Mesut Ozil’s returns for the season included 7 goals and 12 assists in a total of 40 appearances. While they are impressive for any midfielder, especially in his first season in a new league, they are low by his own personal standards. A host of Arsenal greats and the manager himself have spoken out in favor of Ozil, saying that he needed time to adjust and will come back stronger next season. While it is true that at 25, he has a lot of scope for growth, the constant questions raised about his impact in large matches is something he needs to address urgently. Also he has, at times, appeared uncomfortable with the high level of physical play in the English league, and his defensive contribution is weak. This reluctance to track back is something Arsene Wenger will definitely be looking to address.

But perhaps it is not fair to blame just Ozil, a look at the stats reveals that he is responsible for creating over 70 goal scoring opportunities this season, second only to David Silva in the league. The lack of a quality striker to convert is likely the reason for his fewer assists. Giroud has been largely forgettable and wasteful in front of goal in the second half of the season, and if Arsenal manage to acquire a quality striker this season, then Ozil’s impact will definitely be felt.

Definitely, the fans will be hoping that Ozil keeps churning out the goals like he used to at Madrid, and Wenger will be looking to bring in someone like Diego Costa to lead the attack. Was Ozil worth the £42.5 million? Not based on this season’s performance, but if he plays like he is capable of playing, this could well turn out to be an inspired buy.