Sunderland will head to The Emirates tonight (11pm) to face Arsenal and one Mesut Ozil. The best attacking midfielder in the world has now probably realised the bane of the English game – egos!
When the midfielder first arrived and all the play went through him, The Gunners seemed to have little issue brushing off sides left and right, but this column has been lamenting the fact of too many cooks in midfield spoiling the dish and it is becoming more and more apparent with each passing game.
Protected and allowed freedom of expression with Germany and Real Madrid, Ozil has recognised that his own worst enemy are his teammates.
The pairing of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira behind Ozil for Germany meant not only defensive discipline, but also vision to spot Ozil's runs.
Then it was Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira again for Real Madrid. The simple truth of the matter is The Gunners do not have any player with the vision and passing ability to find Ozil's awareness of space.
Mikel Arteta's age has been showing this season and Mathieu Flamini provides the engine and relentless tempo but needs an Alonso-esque figure next to him.
First it was Aaron Ramsey who did not like being upstaged (one needs only look at the defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford in November to see the lack of and it is now Jack Wilshere, who could not spot a zit on his nose never mind having the radar to see the big picture.
The Black Cats head to The Emirates wanting blood on their hands and could do well to allow Mathieu Flamini time on the ball as he can't cause any damage.
Win it, he does, then gives it to Mikel Arteta who takes ages on the ball, or Wilshere, who in turn blindly starts running with it or passes it wide. Meanwhile, Ozil keeps making run after run.
We know that playmakers of the traditional mould are temperamental, but when the lifeblood of your game is short give-and-go passes and incisive through balls unto sprinting wingers, can anyone really blame Ozil when the players around him have stopped making runs?
He was not signed to play left-back (as that became his position for the last half-hour against Bayern Munich), but when you are provided with a poor-man's Olivier Giroud upfront (Yaya Sanogo) and, well, Giroud himself, these aren't exactly ideal players to play into space with.
The sight of Wilshere in injury time, attempting to dribble past three Bayern players, to place an under hit pass to Ozil then expecting the return ball and screams like a petulant child at Ozil after that ball is intercepted sums it up.
It is the footballers around Ozil who need to take a long hard look at themselves first before taking the easy way out and blaming their best player by miles.
Mourinho vs Martinez at the Bridge
The game of the weekend (8.45pm tonight) is certainly at Stamford Bridge as Jose Mourinho's men confront an Everton side chasing Champions League qualification.
Just like Old Trafford, the Bridge does not hold fear for visiting teams. Opposing teams come knowing they will be allowed to play their brand of football and not get spanked.
Roberto Martinez's Everton side passes the ball better than most and the individual talents of Kevin Mirallas and Ross Barkley add flair along with defensive discipline not common for players in their respective positions.
One-nil to the Boring one? Not this time, perhaps. Expect a good game of football, that's a guarantee.
Round-up of the rest
It is do or die for Cardiff City at home to Hull City (11pm, tonight). But do or die for Hull City in Wales, not so much. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has to start winning matches the same way he won matches for Manchester United.
The famed super-sub needs to make a difference for his team by creating something out of nothing, moments of brilliance punctuated by a solid consistent defensive display.
The riches of Manchester City will be the difference as Manuel Pellegrini needs to rotate his squad after the toils of playing with a man less against Barcelona. And despite all the riches, it is apparent that the weaknesses at centre-back should have been rectified in January.
The cheque book talks but Pellegrini has blundered by not addressing the situation as Martin Demichelis and Joleon Lescott compete for a 'best of the worst' starting position. There is a very unhappy centre-back in Manchester who will not even have to move house but will bring some form of aggression to the City defence. You can guess who I am referring to.
The summer though might be a little too late. The Nemanja Vidic factor should have been exploited but Pellegrini showed as much vision as Wilshere in this situation.
All hands to the pump for both Mark Hughes and Pellegrini in what could be a cracker at the Etihad. A resounding win for Manchester City against Stoke City (11pm, tonight) at home will be the perfect antidote after having their home ransacked in midweek.
On a side note, it must be noted that nary a football journalist jumped on Vincent Kompany's back after his horrific positioning allowed Lionel Messi to be played in behind Martin Demichelis - of course, suddenly criticizing the centre-back many deemed the best in the Premier League last season is not kosher, and neither does it fit the narrative woven by the media of Demichelis being a slow lumbering defender.
The Tony Pulis factor awaits Manchester United and David Moyes could do well to heed the warning. Pulis has galvanised Crystal Palace while Moyes is well under way at turning Manchester United into his old Everton side. This could be a thriller; pity about the football, though. Crystal Palace host Manchester United tonight at 1.30am (Sunday morning).
And finally, Brendan Rodgers versus Brendan Rodgers will be a classic, although Michael Laudrup might beg to differ. Will Garry Monk display the traits of his former manager at Anfield?
The return of Jose Canas and Jonathan de Guzman to central midfield has been a case of better late than never. The duo formed the base of a solid midfield that allowed for some slick football from Swansea City, but injuries at one time or another to either one of them forced some poor results and Laudrup's exit. Liverpool host Swansea City tomorrow at 9.30pm.
Have a great weekend. – February 22, 2014.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
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