Mesut Ozil scored his first goal for Arsenal in 10 months as the Gunners smashed four past Newcastle on Sunday but that was only the start of the story of that goal.
Ozil’s strike was the third of the second half for Arsenal, who’d largely disappointed in the first and it was an important one for many reasons.
Firstly, it meant the game actually felt safe.
Secondly, it got a goal for a player who desperately needed some return for his creative output, be that an assist or a goal.
Thirdly, it moved us to a positive goal difference in the league.
Finally, the move leading to it involved 35 passes. That’s 10 more than any other goal in the Premier League this season AND it involved every single player in the side, including Bernd Leno, at least once.
35 – There were 35 passes in the build-up for Mesut Özil's goal vs Newcastle, making it 10 passes longer than any goal scored in the Premier League this season, with all 11 @Arsenal players involved at least once. Mikel. pic.twitter.com/9p2I09HMJP
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 16, 2020
If this is Artetaball, hook it to my veins…