Playmaker is an easy target for some but yet again the German World Cup-winner made a decisive intervention in a tournament which brings the best out of himAs game-seizing moments go, Mesut Özil’s part in Arsenal’s defibrillation after a deathly first half against Paris Saint‑Germain was among the more quietly understated acts of on-field leadership. Arsenal needed it, though. They were outplayed by PSG for most of this 2-2 draw, overrun in midfield and flattered to escape with a point.In avoiding defeat they were indebted to a moment of stirring incision against the head from Özil, who has often been accused of disappearing in these big games. “As soon as there is physicality involved, Özil disappears,” Raymond Domenech, always good...
The striker is prolific and has an admirable work ethic but, as in the match at Parc des Princes, has a habit of falling short when his team need him the mostThe two things that nearly everyone agrees on are he is dashingly swoonsome and that is irrelevant. Beyond that there is constant debate about the usefulness of a high-scoring striker who will attempt to deliver a decisive performance at the Emirates on Wednesday. We are talking – before anyone launches into another dissertation on Olivier Giroud – about Edinson Cavani.It is easy to forget that Cavani opened the scoring when Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain drew 1-1 at Parc des Princes in September. Because what really sticks in the mind...
Crystal Palace need to stand tall after another defeat, Arsenal’s steel bodes well for title challenge and West Ham’s problems up front have been laid bare Related: Pep Guardiola was always going to win but Yaya Touré may not have lost Related: David Luiz holds back to ensure Chelsea’s defence stays unbreached | Michael Cox Related: Victor Anichebe thrives after being given fresh lease of life at Sunderland Related: Harry Winks gives Tottenham hope for Champions League survival Continue reading...
A third successive home draw will not make the manager’s life any easier after Arsenal earned a point through Olivier Giroud’s late levellerIt is a moot point whether Arsenal fans have any right to make the claim that he is “not special any more” after what José Mourinho would describe as their specialising in failure years, but they know what needles Manchester United and their manager.The home side have not been special enough this season, Mourinho has even begun blaming his success in the past for the raised expectations that are currently going unfulfilled at Old Trafford, and if United are back in the realms of the ordinary there is no longer anything special about this fixture other than its...
The Arsenal manager looked to be paying the price for his cautious selection in the centre but his side snatched a point with a late equaliser at Old TraffordThere was a good moment at the final whistle here. Arsène Wenger and José Mourinho shook hands brusquely on the Old Trafford touchline, turned to walk off, then realised with a shared prickle of awkwardness they were heading the same way, the world’s most awkward shared hundred metre stroll ahead of them. Wenger did the decent thing, taking a couple of paces then stopping and pretending to fiddle with his coat. It was deftly done and no doubt a sensible move, the thick black cloud above Mourinho’s head almost visible as he...