Mesut Ozil's solo goal for Arsenal against Ludogorets is still unreal, he sat down the whole defence
Mesut Ozil scored the best goal of his career six years ago today and it still makes for outrageous viewing.
Ozil notched the winner for Arsenal in a thrilling 3-2 victory away at Bulgarian side Ludogorets in the Champions League.
The Gunners found themselves 2-0 down early on, with Jonathan Cafu and Claudiu Keseru both finding the net for the hosts.
Granit Xhaka and Olivier Giroud struck to ensure Arsenal were level at half-time and then Ozil did his thing three minutes from time.
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The World Cup winner normally laid on deft passes for his teammates but on this occasion he more or less assisted himself with a magical piece of play.
Mohamed Elneny played Ozil in behind and he beat the Ludogorets offside trap with a superbly timed run. After a perfect first touch, the goalkeeper came rushing out and Ozil delicately flicked the ball over his head.
⏪ Five years to the day since Mesut Ozil sent two Ludogorets defenders for a hot-dog 🌭🤤pic.twitter.com/c7ze5jtSB9
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 1, 2021
The timing of the run. The first touch. The lob over the keeper. The dummy so clever it left two defenders on the floor. The finish. The limbs in the away end. The last-gasp winner.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 1, 2018
🗓 #OnThisDay in 2016: a @MesutOzil1088 masterpiece 🐐 pic.twitter.com/n0pp8iKOn2
Two defenders came charging back in but the former Real Madrid sent them to the shops with an insane feint.
They both went sliding into next week, with Ozil maintaining his composure and rolling the ball into the net after a sublime sequence.
He had destroyed Ludogorets a few weeks prior with a hat-trick in the home fixture at the Emirates but this worldie was a whole new level of humiliation.
In 2018, Ozil, while doing a Twitter Q&A, revealed he believes the goal to be the best he's ever scored.
My last goal against Ludogorets! 😎 #UCL #hattrick https://t.co/OcoaPpa09J
— Mesut Özil (@M10) October 24, 2018
Ozil joined Arsenal in 2013 in a £42.5 million deal from Real. He managed 54 goals and 33 assists in 184 Premier League appearances, winning three FA Cups during his tenure.
He found himself completely frozen out under Mikel Arteta and joined boyhood club Fenerbahce on a free transfer in January 2021.
However the stint didn't go to plan and by the time July 2022 rolled around, Ozil's contract was terminated.
He didn't wait long to find a new club and quickly joined nearby side Istanbul Basaksehir, where he's made just three appearances this term.
Topics: Mesut Ozil, Arsenal, Champions League
Josh Lawless