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Cape Town - Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has criticised Mesut Ozil, claiming the playmaker's work rate in big games is not good enough.
Ozil put in an erratic performance against Hull City last weekend as the Gunners won 2-0, and Keown has focused in on the German's shortcomings in defence.
"He's a sort of icing-on-the-cake type player," Keown told the press, according to ESPN FC. "Arsenal need more from him, particularly from a defensive point of view.
"You could say he's in there for his creativity but the likes of (Dennis) Bergkamp, (Thierry) Henry, (Robert) Pires - they offered creativity but they offered just as much work rate.
"A modern day player has to be equipped to do both and I don't know that Arsenal get enough from Ozil when they don't have the ball.
"Maybe I'm being unfair, it can be difficult to recover back, but you see other players doing that. His body language is an issue and he's suffered lately, particularly in the big games."
Ozil has revealed that he is ready to sign a new contract at Arsenal depending on manager Arsene Wenger staying on into next season.
Arsenal next face the daunting task of taking on German giants, Bayern Munich in the round of 16 Champions League tie at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night.
Kick-off is at 21:45.
