Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has jokingly played down Mesut Ozil’s terrific goal against Ludogorets in the Champions League as he doesn’t want to inflate the midfielder’s ego.
Ozil scored the Gunners all-important third goal in the 3-2 victory by clipping a ball over the onrushing keeper before beating two men to slip it into an unguarded net.
And, despite pretending to play it down, Mustafi has hailed the beautiful strike from an “incredible” player.
“I don’t want to say too much because it will get in his head and he’s going to think he’s the best again,” joked Mustafi.
“No, we know his qualities. He is incredible. He is calm in front of goal, I think I would have just taken the first touch and shot from 20 yards away!
Fraudlexis Sanchez, eh? Arsenal's Chilean boy is facing big allegations over in Spain https://t.co/XEN6WQv9MV
— Football365 (@F365) November 2, 2016
“But he stays cool, he has the calmness and finishes off brilliantly.”
The Gunners face Tottenham on Sunday in the north London derby at the Emirates and Mustafi says the squad are “focused” on getting the right result against their arch-rivals.
“I say after every game that there is no point in thinking too far ahead,” Mustafi said.
“Because you have two or three days between games and there is no time to think about the Champions League anymore.
“The game is finished now and in three days you have another one.
“The next game is Tottenham and that’s going to be important as well at home, so we are focused for that one now.”