Gunners’ superstar midfielder Mesut Ozil has praised midfield colleague Tomas Rosicky, hailing the Czech international captain as one of the best midfielders in the League.
Ozil received the highest of accolades this week when he was named in UEFA’s official Team of the Year, for his performances with Real Madrid and Arsenal since his move in the summer.
However the German did not dwell on his award winning place, instead praising Rosicky after the 33-year-old’s sparking form of late. Tomas has appeared in 4 of the Gunners’ last 6 games, starting against Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham and coming from the bench in Monday’s win over Villa.
He bagged a superb goal in the North London Derby against Spurs, being gifted the ball on the halfway line but managing to outrun Kyle Walker and finish with an exquisite chip over the goalkeeper.
Surprise package
Many predicted that Rosicky could be shown the door last summer, with his age coming into question along with a number of lengthy injury layouts, plus the pressure of the added quality to the squad.
Yet he has managed 21 games in total this season, with a goal and an assist to his name in the meantime.
And Ozil was complimentary of the high levels of competition in the Gunnner’s squad of late, responding to Rosicky’s earlier comments about how much he enjoyed playing alongside Santi and Mesut:
“The feeling is mutual because we are similar types of player," he told the club's official website.
"We're strong when we're on the ball, we play quickly and I have lots of fun playing alongside the team."
"In my opinion Tomas belongs to the best midfielders in the Premier League," he added.
"When you see how much he gives for the team and how he enjoys being on the ball it makes us happy to have a player like that in our ranks."
Ozil on Top of the World
And Ozil himself is certainly a player that everyone at the club is happy - and relieved – to see wearing Red.
The German was named in the Team of the Year by UEFA, a side which did not even involve Barcelona’s 4-time Ballon D’Or winner Lionel Messi.
He managed 10 goals in his 52 appearances for Madrid last season, with 13 assists along the way. Since joining Arsenal, he has managed 5 goals in 23 with 7 assists and has currently created the most chances of any player in Europe.
He is the first Gunner since Cesc Fabregas in 2008 to make the select.
The UEFA Team of the Year in full:
Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich and Germany)
Defender: Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich and Germany)
Defender: Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil)
Defender: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid CF and Spain)
Defender: David Alaba (Bayern Munich and Austria)
Midfielder: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur/Real Madrid & Wales)
Midfielder: Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund and Germany)
Midfielder: Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid/Arsenal FC and Germany)
Midfielder: Franck Ribéry (Bayern Munich and France)
Forward: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain and Sweden)
Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal)
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