'I've scored goals like that in training' - Ozil recalls on his 'chop' finish

The playmaker speaks exclusively to Goal about the unique shooting style that has become his trademark at the Emirates

In 2017, a goal has been watched time and time again by Arsenal fans during the past two years. 

And it's a goal that needs to be watched more than once to truly understand the artistry behind the finish.

Most would have opted for a dinked lob over the onrushing keeper, but not Ozil. 

Instead, he chopped down on the ball as Mignolet rushed out to meet him, directing it into the ground so that it purposely bounced over the Belgium international and into the net.

That is made clear by the fact that the goal against Liverpool wasn’t a one-off, it was just one of several that Ozil has scored in recent years with that same trademark finish.

“As a player, you always want to try and discover new things,” said Ozil. “So if I think of something new I want to try it on the pitch and see how it works.

“It's always been the case that I've scored goals like that in training, but in games, I just shot normally.

“But I’ve noticed that sometimes it’s easier for me to score this way because the goalkeeper has already come out at you and if you try a chip, maybe a recovering defender can reach the ball before it crosses the line.

“So with this technique you kind of eliminate that because you hit the ball harder, it then travels faster and it’s harder to stop.”

“If I’d tried that shot on the concrete I would have ended up breaking my knee,” he joked.

“It would have been a lot harder then, but now you play on these amazing pitches it’s a lot easier.

“I think the people like seeing it, my team-mates do in training as well. If I score a goal in training that way they all celebrate so I think it’s just a nice shot that people like.”