Gary Neville criticises Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil, says he has never seen him step up

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Gary Neville maintains Mesut Ozil needs to do more for Arsenal.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville says Mesut Ozil must start doing more in big games.

The German played all 90 minutes as Arsenal drew 0-0 at home to Liverpool, working hard but unable to make the difference in an entertaining stalemate.

Neville told SkySports Monday Night Football that Ozil does not step up as he should.

He said: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ozil take responsibility for the rest of his teammates. He gives assists, has moments, but doesnt score enough goals.

“Tonight I was so surprised by poor quality of Arsenal on the ball.”

Ozil had more touches than any other player on the pitch in the clash at The Emirates, with Arsenal players dominating the top five.

What they did not do was take the game to Liverpool enough, with only Alexis Sanchez having a clear cut opportunity to score in the second half.

Ozil created three chances, yet with 51 passes in the final third of the pitch, this paled in comparison to Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino who made the same number of key passes with just eight total passes in the final third, playing 27 fewer minutes.

Neville’s criticism will be water off a duck’s back to Ozil who has had to put up with high expectations since his club record transfer to Arsenal, but the only way to address it is if he ‘steps up’ as urged in Arsenal’s next ‘big match’.