Mesut Ozil appeared set to be handed a captain’s role this season after he shrugged off his tempestuous row with German authorities to fireplace Arsenal to massive 5-1 friendly win over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Ozil, taking part in for the first time since he controversially quit the German national team claiming racism, took the captain’s armband and duly netted the opener because the Premier League club ran riot.
Alexandre Lacazette’s quickfire double and late strikes from Rob Holding and Eddie Nketiah then turned it right into a rout against a youthful PSG — the previous club of latest Arsenal boss Unai Emery.
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“We’re trying to Mesut and giving him duty, and I believe he can take responsibility like a captain,” stated Emery, adding that he would title Ozil as considered one of 5 or even six club skippers for the approaching season.
“He and the other players had high quality, good positioning I’m very pleased with how the players performed… Tomorrow we’re going to travel to London however this week was superb for our preparation,” stated the Spaniard.
Ozil, in front of 50,000 followers at the International Champions Cup game in Singapore, was quickly into his stride with midfield accomplice Henrikh Mkhitaryan against a PSG line-up shorn of its World Cup stars.
He opened the scoring with a tap-in at the far post after Mkhitaryan launched Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in space and the Gabonese forward passed again across the face.
Ozil’s beautiful flick during a length-of-the pitch transfer almost produced Arsenal’s second however Gianluigi Buffon saved well from Nigerian forward Alex Iwobi.
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