Jamie Redknapp: Mesut Ozil needs to produce more big Arsenal performances

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil Photo: Mesut Ozil / Instagram

Jamie Redknapp has challenged Mesut Ozil to replicate his north London derby performance week in, week out in the Premier League.

The German midfielder responded to his critics with a man of the match display in Arsenal’s 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur at The Emirates on Saturday afternoon.

Ozil provided an assist for Shkodran Mustafi to break the deadlock in the first half with a pinpoint cross to find the German defender in the Tottenham penalty area.

The 29-year-old touched the ball 51 times and finished with 81 per cent pass completion to pull the strings for the Arsenal team in their derby triumph.

Ozil has been criticised for poor performances in Arsenal’s heavy defeats at top-six rivals Liverpool and Manchester City in the 2017-18 season so far.

Former Liverpool midfielder Redknapp challenged Ozil to find a greater consistency in the Premier League following his dominant performance in the north London derby.

“He’s got to do it more often because we know the ability he possesses,” Redknapp told Sky Sports.

“He’s such a gifted player. But Arsenal have got themselves into such a predicament now – they’re two most talented players are out of contract in the summer.”

Biography: Did you know Ozil donated his World Cup winnings to a Brazilian charity? Find out more about Mesut!

Ozil entered the final 12 months of his Arsenal contract at the start of the 2017-18 season to fuel speculation surrounding the attacking midfielder’s future.

The World Cup winner has been linked with a controversial move to Arsenal’s bitter rivals Manchester United in the January transfer window.

Arsenal finished in fifth place in the Premier League table this term.

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