Scout Report: Mesut Ozil - did the Arsenal star impress for Germany?

Scout Report: Mesut Ozil - did the Arsenal star impress for Germany?

The 26-year-old played the full 90 minutes of his nation's 2-2 draw with Australia on Wednesday after missing the Gunners' 2-1 win over Newcastle last weekend

It has been a curious five days for Mesut Ozil. Left out of the Arsenal squad which beat Newcastle due to illness and given permission to head home to Germany early for the international break by Arsene Wenger, the playmaker was alleged to have been spotted in a Berlin nightclub over the weekend.

In the build-up to his country's friendly with Australia, Ozil declared himself convinced he can win the Ballon d'Or in the near future, but how did he fare over 90 minutes on Wednesday night?
 

PERFORMANCE AGAINST AUSTRALIA

Operating from a number of positions in a midfield set-up afforded plenty of freedom by Joachim Low, Ozil was in the thick of the action early on, intercepting a Luke DeVere clearance and launching a counterattack in the Australia half.

After a quick exchange of passes with Mario Gotze, Ozil had the time to pick out Ilkay Gundogan on the edge of the penalty area, and although his side-footed effort was diverted beyond Mat Ryan by Marco Reus, the Borussia Dortmund star saw the goal correctly chalked off for offside.

Reus did not have to wait long for a goal though, sliding a Sami Khedira pass into the net at the near post moments later.

Germany's midfield continued to impress along with Reus and Gotze and after a flurry of one-touch passes, Ozil had launched another attack, but this time, his attempt to find Jonas Hector to his left was weak.

Germany were punished when Australia equalised five minutes before the interval, and Ozil's defensive contribution left much to be desired.

Nathan Burns was able to collect a quick throw-in and turned away from Ozil's lacklustre challenge for the ball, before finding the unmarked James Troisi, who headed past Ron-Robert Zieler.

Low switched to a back four at half time and Ozil moved into a more central role, but there was nothing he could do about Mile Jedinak's free-kick which gave Australia a shock lead after the interval.

It took Ozil 15 minutes to make an impact in the second half, and his well-weighted pass gave Karim Bellarabi a chance to shoot, but his powerful effort was kept out by Ryan.

Germany got their equaliser in the final 10 minutes through Lukas Podolski, but while Ozil was tidy in possession and typically reliable with his passing, the home side could not find a winner.
 

WILL OZIL START AGAINST LIVERPOOL?

Arsenal won 2-1 without Ozil at Newcastle but they laboured in the second half after Moussa Sissoko pulled the home side back into the game - the German's composure on the ball was missed.

Prior to the game at St James' Park, Ozil had started each of his side's last 12 games in all competitions, suffering defeat on just two occasions, against Tottenham and Monaco.

Following the international break the Gunners are back in action against a Liverpool side who, prior to their 2-1 defeat to rivals Manchester United, had been the Premier League's in-form side in 2015.

Providing Ozil returns to north London fully fit after a Euro 2016 qualifying clash with Georgia on Sunday, the 26-year-old looks certain to start.