Building the perfect footballer

The Vision of... Mesut Özil

Ozil has the ability to unlock defences with a killer pass

In the last campaign, the German was phenomenal in pulling the strings in Arsenal's midfield. The 28-year-old finished the season having made a remarkable 19 assists, one shy of the most goals created in a single Premier League season. Not only that, the former Real man made significantly more key passes than any other player in the division with 125.

Whilst other players may match him on his overall passing ability or one-twos, no player levels with Özil when it comes to the ability to pick a player out, especially with long passes or through balls.

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The Tackling of... Claude Makelele

Makelele is regarded as one of the best in his position

An influence so prominent that he’s had a position named after him, Claude Makelele remains one of the greatest defensive midfielders in Premier League history. During his five years at Stamford Bridge, the French midfielder made a total of 114 tackles at a success rate 82%.

He was the catalyst in an evolving Chelsea team, so efficient in breaking down opposition attacks, that the ‘Makelele role’ was born and the former Nantes man changed the way midfielders play. Any ‘perfect footballer’ would sorely need his tackling ability.