Mesut Ozil returned to the Arsenal starting line-up against Cardiff on Sunday after missing last weekend’s victory over West Ham.
Ozil missed Arsenal’s first win under new manager Unai Emery amid reports of a training ground bust-up, but Emery said Ozil was absent simply due to illness.
Here, Press Association Sport assesses the midfielder’s performance in south Wales.
Creativity
? @MesutOzil1088, @LacazetteAlex, @Aubameyang7 all start – here’s our team for #CARARS
What do you make of it? pic.twitter.com/HqDrXv5oxV
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) September 2, 2018
Ozil made a bright start, threading some precision passes and looking hungry for work as Arsenal overcame some early defensive issues to take an 11th-minute lead through Shkodran Mustafi’s header. Ozil epitomised an Arsenal team often comfortable in possession, and was also at the heart of their counter-attacking game, linking well with Alexandre Lacazette and being involved in approach play for his team’s second goal.