Theo Walcott has said that Mesut Ozil rather Jamie Vardy or Riyad Mahrez is the clear footballer of the year so far and has predicted that the German playmaker will play even better during the second half of the season.
Arsenal lead the Premier League going into 2016 largely due to the contribution of Ozil, who has provided 16 assists already this season and will this year be offered a new contract to stay at the club beyond his current deal until 2018.
Walcott has taken Alexis Sanchez’s usual position to Ozil’s left in recent weeks and, in order to profit from his creativity, says that you simply need to make eye contact with the German World Cup winner and then have the stamina to keep making runs. “He has told me to just keep making runs and he just spots it,” said Walcott. “I need to help out by putting them in. You don’t have many left-footers like Mesut. They make that movement from out to in and make the bend of the ball. You just have to make eye contact and once you get that he knows where you're going to go.
“Some of the things you see on the pitch, his goal alone [against Bournemouth], he didn't break stride and it was like he was jogging. He just slows things down when he is playing.”
Asked if Ozil was the player of the season so far, Walcott said: “Without a doubt. The stats show that but also his work-rate through the game. I see him training every day and what he does for this team.
“Obviously it always takes time when you come into a new team and a new environment to get the balance right but everyone knows his strength and he is fitting in now. Mesut is just in the form of his life. He is just a special player and is only going to get better and better.”
Theo Walcott is benefitting from Ozil's vision Photo: AP
Walcott also again admitted that his preference would be to play as the main central striker, despite Olivier Giroud currently occupying that role. Sanchez must surely also be accommodated when he returns next week, although the need to move Aaron Ramsey inside to central midfield means that Walcott may then switch to the right.
“I've said with the manager before I want to be playing up front but I can operate anywhere in those front three lines,” said Walcott. “I will do anything for the team. Olivier is in great goalscoring form so you wouldn’t want to change that. The flow is good.
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“I'm enjoying it on the left and it gives me permission to wander around. Southampton was a bit of a blip but if you want to win the championship you are never going to go without a blip, it was a bit of a wake-up call and we bounced back well.”
Olivier Giroud (right) has rediscovered his goalscoring boots
Arsenal have accumulated most points in the Premier League this calendar year but they also achieved that feat in 2013 before faltering. They have since won back-to-back FA Cups and, after also showing their steel this season to beat Bayern Munich and Olympiacos to stay in the Champions League, as well as Premier League victories against Manchester City and United, Walcott is certain that the players now have the mental strength.
“We proved a lot of people wrong that night [against Olympiacos] and that result has shown the quality and the class and the determination we have in this team,” said Walcott. “We never give up. Performance at this stage doesn’t need to be there, it is all about getting points on the board.
“We don't want to look ahead of ourselves but we have a history of ending the season well. We are getting players back fit and we have one of the best squads when we have everyone fit, I truly believe that. It is the best team I've been involved in when you have Mesut and the way he is playing gets the best out of everyone.”
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