From Mesut the Messiah to the new Arshavin... How £42.5m Ozil has faded at Arsenal to a shadow of his former self

When Mesut Ozil ignited Arsenal’s season back in September, questions were asked why no-one else – chiefly Manchester United – had not been bold enough to put up the £42.5million to sign the mercurial midfielder from Real Madrid.
Just five months on and the questions being asked about Arsenal’s record signing are rather different.
No longer Mesut the Messiah, there are fears that the struggling German international could turn out to be the new Andrey Arshavin.

Bad night: Ozil reacts after seeing his early penalty saved by Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (below)

Lost: Ozil has faded badly since making an impressive start for Arsenal when signed for £42.5million from Real Madrid in the summer

Against Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, Ozil looked a shadow of his old self, the contrast with his uber-confident compatriots only serving to highlight just how much he has faded during his short time in England.
Yes, he won Arsenal’s early penalty, drawing a careless foul from Jerome Boateng when he stepped inside the Bayern defender in the seventh minute. But the resulting spot-kick, placed aimlessly down the middle of Manuel Neuer’s goal with little power or purpose, enabled his childhood friend to flap the ball away to safety.
If there was one thing we thought we could rely on the Germans to do it was convert a penalty.

Not reliable: You might have expected a German to take a good penalty, but Ozil's kick was easily saved by Manuel Neuer

Old friends: A picture has emerged of Ozil (middle row, far right) and Neuer (in goalkeeper's kit) when they were at school

Lack of perspiration: Ozil's heat map from the match backs up Flamini's accusations

Ozil’s performance went downhill from there. He was switched to an unfamiliar role wide on the left after the sending-off of goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny forced Arsene Wenger to shuffle his pack in a desperate attempt to stop the European champions effectively ending this tie after one leg for the second season in a row, and looked like a man who would rather be somewhere else.
At one point he became involved in an angry confrontation with teammate Mathieu Flamini who was furious that Ozil had once again failed to track Arjen Robben’s run into the box. It was about the only aggression that he showed all night. Afterwards Ozil trudged off the pitch without acknowledging the his own supporters.
That followed a public row with Germany teammate Per Mertesacker at Manchester City in December, and Flamini is not the only one who thinks that Ozil isn’t pulling his weight with some Arsenal fans accusing him of being lazy.

Flashpoint: Mesut Ozil was sternly rebuked by teammate Mathieu Flamini during the second half of Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night

Angry: The flashpoint started when Ozil (bottom right) pointed an accusing finger at defender Laurent Koscielny (wiping his brow), leading to a rebuke from Mathieu Flamini

Rage: Flamini tears into Ozil, apparently accusing him of failing to track back and help out the defence

Argy-bargy: Flamini and Ozil engage in some pushing and shoving, continuing their angry exchange of words

Critical: Mesut Ozil was shouted at by his teammate and German compatriot Per Mertesacker after not applauding the travelling Arsenal fans after defeat at Manchester City back in December