‘Sad’ Wenger defends Ozil after Atletico defeat

– ‘We expect better’ –

Keown, however, was less optimistic and reserved a particularly harsh assessment for Ozil.

“He wasn’t fit to wear the shirt tonight,” Keown told BT Sport. “I’ve seen this a lot this season and it needs to be said. He needs to be dug out. We expect better from him.

“These are crocodile tears I’m seeing from the player. He’s not conning me.”

LW: MESUT OZIL – 4

Went missing for the majority of the match. Felt optimistic whenever he did get the ball but could not deliver. Simeone sang his praises before the game as our most ‘dangerous’ player – but he showed no threat to Atletico’s defence tonight. pic.twitter.com/yjnIBMf89Q

— Nathan (@_nathynati0n) May 4, 2018

Keown added: “I bet he doesn’t play again this season. He’ll have some emotional breakdown and won’t play this weekend.”

When Keown’s comments were put to Wenger, he said: “I don’t agree with that. You will see that he gave a lot. It was a difficult team, physically very intense.

“I’m convinced that Ozil should not be criticised by anyone just because he did not score. We had plenty of opportunities and we lose as a team.”

Wenger also delivered an update on the fitness of Laurent Koscielny, who had to be carried off on a stretcher in the 12th minute after the defender went down, with nobody near him, clutching his left Achilles.

Mesut Ozil’s Performance Was Disgusting!! (DT) | Atletico Madrid 1-0 Arsenalhttps://t.co/2ubNmT6T93#AFC #AFTV pic.twitter.com/wilcKh4fFj

— ArsenalFanTV (@ArsenalFanTV) May 3, 2018

Arsenal and France now face an anxious wait.

“It doesn’t look very good, it’s his Achilles,” Wenger said. “You can always hope for a miracle in the scan but if he has a ruptured Achilles, his chances for the World Cup are non-existent.”

Costa was the star of the show, providing the tenacity and killer instinct Arsenal so desperately lacked.

“Costa came back here for nights like this,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “To be important, to lead from the front. This side needs an aggressive striker and that’s exactly what he is.”