Magnificent Mesut steps up to keep Wenger and Arsenal's season alive

The Germany star created both goals as the Gunners put in a high intensity, committed performance to produce a crucial result at San Siro
Disciplined, composed and exciting to watch on the counter attack, Arsenal’s performance against AC Milan was long overdue.

The Gunners showed in Italy that manager Arsene Wenger certainly has not lost the dressing room after a dismal few weeks which have included defeats to Ostersunds FK, Manchester City - twice - and Brighton. And at the centre of everything positive for Arsenal was Mesut Ozil, who reminded the watching public why he remains the best ‘No.10’ and playmaker in world football

Arsenal were particularly adept at controlling the space given to them in the centre of the pitch by Milan throughout the first half. Gino Gattuso was his usual emotional self on the touchline, kicking every ball for his team – and the manager certainly wouldn’t have allowed such a low intensity performance in midfield if he was still playing for the Serie A giants.

Thirteen games unbeaten Milan may have been, but it was Arsenal who grew in confidence as the game went on thanks to Ozil’s delightful ball into the path of Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Armenia international ensured it did not go to waste, maintaining his fine Europa League goalscoring record with a little help from a Leonardo Bonucci deflection.

There should have been a mismatch where confidence was concerned between these two sides, yet it was Arsenal who increased the scoreline further when Ozil threaded a perfectly weighted though ball into the path of Aaron Ramsey, who in turn rounded Gianluigi Donarumma to take a two-goal lead back to the Emirates Stadium.

Ozil’s exuberance on the pitch is always better placed when the players around him fulfil their tactical duties. Amid whistles from the 70,000 plus Milan fans inside San Siro, an inspired Arsenal side showed that if they put in disciplined performances with full concentration then Ozil will quite simply do the rest.

He is a player capable of magical moments in big games, and performances such as these only help the club defend making him their highest paid player after he signed a contract extension at the end of January.

“I always want to control the game, give assists and help my team,” Ozil told "MEDIA" in an interview last season.

“It was like that with me from the start [of my career]. In my position you have many possibilities playing forward: You can demand the balls, make telling passes or score yourself. I feel the most comfortable playing as a number 10 because I’ve done it since I was young.”