This week we’re announcing our Player of the Season for 2017/18, as voted for by you, the fans.

In third place, you’ve selected Mesut Ozil.

Here’s our verdict on our No 11’s season.

Mesut Ozil: the verdict



As has been the case every season since he joined, Mesut Ozil’s creative statistics made for fine reading in 2017/18.

The 29-year-old committed his future to the club in January, signing a long-term contract, and made 115 chances for his team-mates over the course of the campaign. Only three players created more opportunities than Ozil’s 84 in the Premier League, and our German international played fewer minutes than those who finished above him in the charts.

Ozil made 12 goals for his team-mates in all competitions this season, and became the fastest player to reach 50 assists in the Premier League when setting up Shkodran Mustafi’s opener in our 3-0 home win over Watford in March.

Ozil is associated with setting up goals and some of those he created in 2017/18 were simply excellent, notably his deep cross for Nacho Monreal at Swansea City, his incisive through ball to Aaron Ramsey in the San Siro and his looping pass for the same player in the next round of the Europa League, at home to CSKA Moscow.

Performance-wise, we were treated to some vintage Ozil displays, particularly as 2017 drew to a close. He was exceptional in our 2-0 north London derby win at the Emirates in November, scored a stunning volley to give us a 1-0 win over Newcastle United and followed that up with perhaps his best display of the season in the thrilling 3-3 draw against Liverpool in his next appearance.

Regretfully, a combination of illness and injury saw Ozil miss a number of matches after the turn of the year, but this was still an encouraging campaign from our playmaker-in-chief.

WHAT A FINISH

Play video Watch Arsenal video online 01:06 Ozil's stunning volley against Newcastle



WHAT THEY SAID

“He makes things easy for you… the players who play around him know that he makes everything so much easier.”

Hector Bellerin was full of praise for Ozil after the north London derby win in November

“Nobody has to convince you that Ozil is a great player, but he added something that people wanted to see from him as well, against Spurs and tonight, that he can fight and come back and win the ball back. Once people see that they are behind you.”

Arsène Wenger loved Ozil’s display in the draw against Liverpool





BEST MOMENTS

Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle United

Premier League

December 16, 2017

Ozil has provided some jaw-dropping moments of brilliance since joining us from Real Madrid in the summer of 2012 - and this goal was one of the very best.

There looked to be little danger when Alexis’ shot was blocked and then headed away. But Ozil reached the loose ball and, while moving backwards, arrowed a powerful left-foot volley into the roof of the net.

Arsenal 4-1 CSKA Moscow

Europa League quarter-final, first leg

April 5, 2018

This was one of Ozil’s standout performances of the season. A scintillating start saw us score four times in the first 35 minutes of this Europa League quarter-final - and the German playmaker was at the heart of almost all of our fine play. He won the penalty that enabled Alexandre Lacazette to put us 2-1 up before setting up goals for Aaron Ramsey and Lacazette to put us in firm control of the tie.