MESUT Ozil has divided opinion in his first season in English football but Aiden McGeady for one is delighted the Arsenal midfielder won't be fit to face his Everton side at Goodison Park today.
The German produced one of the finest individual displays McGeady has ever seen when Joachin Low's side came to the Aviva Stadium to take on the Republic of Ireland in October 2012 and left with a record 6-1 win.
Everton host Arsenal this afternoon knowing a win would close the gap on Arsene Wenger's men to just one point with a game in hand, and turn them into genuine contenders for a Champions League place.
McGeady said of Ozil, out with an ankle injury: "I played against him at international level and he was exceptional. When we played Germany he was at the heart of their best attacking moves and was so difficult to stop. To be honest, he was unplayable that night.
"The boys were trying to press him and close him down and every time he got the ball he was turning and finding space. It was as though he was playing with wing-mirrors on because he seemed to know exactly who and what was behind him and which way to turn to avoid trouble.
"It's not until you see him up close that you realise just how good a player he is. I think any team would miss someone with his undoubted quality but Arsenal have a lot of world-class players."
McGeady, much like Ozil, feels there is more to come from him now he has had time to settle into his new surroundings after his January move from Spartak Moscow.
"There has probably been a bit of adjusting for me to do to get used to the style of play in England after playing over in Russia for a few years," he said. "But it's a great league and every game is a real challenge.
"We're sitting high in the table just now and the aim is to try to finish as high as possible."
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