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Mesut Ozil is too easy a target to pick on at Arsenal - Joey Barton
ARSENAL star Mesut Ozil has found an unlikely ally in Joey Barton.
Mesut Özil on speaking to Wenger about transfer to Arsenal
Mesut Ozil was anonymous as Arsenal slipped to a 1-0 defeat away to Stoke on Saturday, with new signing Jese scoring on his debut.
The German has been heavily criticised in the past for his perceived lack of work rate and was mercilessly taunted after the game at the bet365 Stadium on Twitter.
And Barton, who has been no stranger to controversy in the past, has stuck up for Ozil.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Barton said: “He is the easy person to pick on.
"His skill set is in a different area, creating goals and giving other players opportunities.
Mesut Ozil had a game to forget against Stoke
He is the easy person to pick on
“It was a bad ball from Granit Xhaka [for the Stoke goal] and then he compounds the mistake by leaving the centre of the park.
“But you have to give Stoke credit - it is a great finish by the kid."
Joey Barton thinks Mesut Ozil gets unfairly blamed
Arsenal’s defeat saw them drop to 11th in the table.
They face Liverpool, who won 1-0 on their last outing against Crystal Palace, next on Sunday (4pm).
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