Mesut Ozil: Midfield maestro, merchant of hope
Monday's momentous tilt between Premier League title favourites was a measured battle between two sides littered with worldly talents that was determined by the brilliance of one man.
Arsenal bested Manchester City at the Emirates 2-1 in a heavyweight bout decided by the brilliance of one player: Mesut Ozil.
His pass and subsequent duck to allow Theo Walcott's edge of the area strike to beat Joe Hart was sublime. His ball for Olivier Giroud's tight-angle finish on the stroke of halftime was careful and deliberate.
They said he's nicking a living. He looks disinterested and lethargic and his style is laconic. They criticised the manager for not activating the buy back option on Barcelona and ex-Gunner playmaker Cesc Fabregas, allowing him to scurry over to London rivals Chelsea.
They said Arsenal couldn't beat the bigger clubs and that they feed on bottom-dwellers only to wilt when faced with the league's best.
They were wrong. Emphatically.
"They" are football pundits and supporters alike who doubted their influential table-setter and the oft-criticised manager, who bought him from Real Madrid for a club record fee of £42.5 million.
With 21 #PL games remaining @MesutOzil1088 is only five assists from equaling @ThierryHenry's record #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/yFmnhqjMfT
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) December 21, 2015
Ozil is Arsenal's most influential player since legendary striker Thierry Henry, and with two assists Monday at a boisterous Emirates Stadium - and 15 on the season - he is five short of matching the league record of the former French international.
To Henry's credit, that 2002-03 campaign saw the pacey striker pair 24 goals with the 20 helpers in what is likely the most standout individual performance in the English top-flight's storied history.
That said, Arsenal supporters haven't seen a player transform the narrative of a match since the angular Frenchman the way Ozil has.
They said he doesn't run, but when Ozil was subbed off in the 76th minute for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain he appeared gassed and clearly laboured as he sauntered off the pitch, as those in attendance hysterically paid tribute to their midfield maestro.
Two points shy of Premier League darlings Leicester City, Arsenal has its best chance to lift the top-flight trophy in years, and few players have been as influential in a title chase as Ozil has been this year.
Nicking a living? Hardly.