The three best assisters in Europe's biggest competition (Photo: Getty Images)
Mesut Ozil LOVES an assist. Even if he suddenly went on a crazy goalscoring run and ended the season with 40 goals, Arsenal's midfield maestro would STILL be associated with assisting others.
We know it. You know it. He most definitely knows it, as this tweet - thanking Ludogorets for helping out The Gunners in the Champions League - proves:
Group winners! Thanks for the assist @Ludogorets1945! #YaGunnersYa #FCBvAFC @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/Eqy 9kvfHwW— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) December 6, 2016
So, is Ozil's reputation as an Assist King justified?
In the Premier League, the German playmaker has so far created just TWO goals in 13 games - an oddly low number. However, when it comes to the Champions League - the highest level of football there is (supposedly) - Ozil's numbers are a different story.
After he set up Alex Iwobi for Arsenal's fourth goal in their 4-1 win against Basel, Ozil now has a grand total of 23 Champions League assists to his name.
Ozil made his first Champions League appearance on 18 September 2007. Incredibly, that now means only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - the two best players on the planet - have racked up more Champions League assists in that time frame:
Most Champions League assists since Sept 2007:
Cristiano Ronaldo
26
Lionel Messi
24
Mesut Ozil
23
An impressive stat for the Arsenal man, which looks all the more impressive when you look at the full top 10 from that time period.
Ozil is now in joint third, ahead of some SERIOUSLY big names.
Now, if Arsenal can just get this guy signed up on a long-term deal, Gooners will be able to sit back and enjoy these sorts of stats… rather than worrying about how their team might cope if they lose him.
Isn't that right, Mesut?
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