Can 20-year-old Spaniard threaten Ozil’s Arsenal place next season?

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Exciting Arsenal midfielder Jon-Miquel Toral, who is on-loan at Brentford, is shining in the Championship – should Mesut Ozil be worried?

Brentford loan star Jon-Miquel Toral scored a hat-trick from midfield against Blackpool just 24 hours before Mesut Ozil was berated on Twitter for his performance against Monaco in the Champions League.

The 20-year-old Spaniard starred for Brentford on Tuesday as they produced the most dominant attacking display of any Championship side this season; recording no less than 42 shots against bottom club Blackpool.

Toral started on the left of an attacking midfield trio and hit the back of the net on three separate occasions. He also recorded six shots on goal, four of which were on target, and created five goalscoring opportunities for his teammates.

In contrast, Ozil created just one opportunity against Monaco and failed to register a single shot – on or off target.

Although it wasn’t a good display from the majority of the Arsenal team on Wednesday, it was the German who took most of the flak as his label of being a ‘world-class’ midfielder continues to be called into question.

Who is Toral, can he really fight Ozil for a spot in the team?

Arsenal have produced, or at least developed, a number of high-profile midfielders in the recent past and Toral seems to have slipped slightly under the radar.

The La Masia academy product joined the Gunners in 2011, along with Barca teammate Hector Bellerin. However, unlike his teammate, has been set back with a number of injuries.

Now fully fit, and chomping at the bit, Brentford fans have been able to witness the ability that made Arsene Wenger sign him from the La Liga club nearly four years ago.

The Spanish midfielder has registered five goals and two assists in 790 minutes of Championship football this season, making him the most efficient player in the Bees side.

In the summer, when he returns to North London, the youngster will have a complete pre-season to impress Wenger, so it could all depend on what kind of form he finishes the season in.

Although he is unlikely to oust Ozil from the first-team completely, the Reus-born midfielder will offer a good level of competition and keep the German on his toes.