Di Canio accuses Ozil of having witch-like tendencies…
Sunderland manager Paulo Di Canio thinks Mesut Ozil’s debut performance was so good, he was probably wearing magic boots, reports the Mirror.
The 24-year-old German playmaker started his first game in a Gunners shirt since his £42m deadline day move from Real Madrid – and immediately lit up the Premier League with hos wonderful intricate passing, and a brilliant assist for French striker Olivier Giroud.
Arsenal comfortably won 3-1, sending them to the top of the Premier league.
“Was he wearing magic boots?” asked the Black Cats’ maverick boss.
“He was lucky, every touch was good! We will all have to check, they were like a glove. He is a rather good player,” joked the Italian manager.
Ozil’s assist was his 75th in five seasons – and Gunners fans will hope their outstanding new playmaker can keep up the good form throughout the season.
Di Canio’s opposite number, and Ozil’s new boss Arsene Wenger, was similarly lavish in his praise of the superstar.
“You have seen some great players in the Premier League and it is very difficult to judge someone after one game,” he reminded reporters drooling over the German’s performance.
“But he is a great player and there is a lot more to come from him, when he gets used to the contact. He told me after the game that he’d enjoyed it.
“He looked very comfortable, especially his first touch. He had not practised with the team at all, but it worked. In the transition from defence to attack, he does that very well.
“His passing and his retention of the ball gives everyone time to move. He is based a lot on movement and getting time for people to be available on the ball. The creative side of his
game gives us a kind of technical security, which is interesting.”
Arsenal travel to Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday, before hosting Stoke at the Emirates at the weekend.
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