While Spurs had to wave off to Madrid a 24-year-old attacking midfielder in the last transfer window, Arsène Wenger coolly brought in the opposite direction a 24-year-old attacking midfielder for less than half the price Real paid for Gareth Bale.

Only an oligarch could consider £42.4 million to be short change, but it’s beginning to look as though the club’s record signing Mesut Ozil really might turn out to be the bargain of the summer. In just a month he’s transformed the mood of the club and the quality of the team’s football.

He’s shone in almost every game and sits atop the Premier League’s assists chart. His performance last night – particularly during a first half in which he scored one Bale-like goal (his first for the club) that Pepe Reina barely saw, and laid on an assist for Olivier Giroud – was exceptional and thoroughly merited the man of the match award.

Arsène knows

Wenger called Ozil’s first half contribution “outstanding”:

“[In the first half Ozil] had everything that you want to see from a great player. Individual skill, team play, finishing, final ball. You just had to sit there and enjoy it... We are just lucky to have got him.”

Arsène knows. And he went on to suggest that the team’s performance against Napoli last night was the best since the victory over Barcelona in 18 months:

“I would be tempted to say [it was our best performance since] we last played Barcelona here [in February 2011, when Arsenal won 2-1].”

That’s probably true, though it must be remembered that Barcelona progressed from that particular Champions League tie.

Better than the Invincibles?

It is what Wenger said next that is arguably more important:

“When you play at home in the Champions League the [away] team comes [on to you] and tries to play as well.”

That’s a crucial factor in considering last night’s result. Would Napoli have allowed this Arsenal team as a whole, and Ozil individually, the time and space to knock the ball around like they did yesterday?

So is the current team better than the one of February 2011? Probably.

But better than the Invincibles of 2004? We shouldn’t get carried away with ourselves just yet. That squad won things – lots of things. This squad has won nothing except a few games.

Ozil is obviously an extraordinarily gifted footballer – quite possibly the best to wear an Arsenal shirt since Bergkamp and Henry’s greatest days – but it’s still only been a month. It’s been barely a handful of games. The leaves are still (mostly) on the trees. Even if Ozil seems a shoo-in for September’s Player of the Month award, you win nothing for being top of the table on 2nd October.

Fundamentally this same group of players capitulated horribly at home to Aston Villa on the opening day of the season and were booed from the pitch. The group of players has leaned against the door for a couple of seasons now without managing to force it fully open.

Ozil is undoubtedly a breath of fresh air. He seems to be bringing the best out in Aaron Ramsey – and compared to Bale’s £85 million price tag – he was a steal. But until his feet mesmerize opponents in cup finals and lead the club to lift silverware, the hyperbole is premature.

Let’s all take a breath and re-assess in six months’ time.

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