Mesut Ozil's impact at Arsenal mixed in five years since transfer

Before Arsenal signed Mesut Ozil five years ago, nobody believed Arsenal were crying out for a signing like Mesut Ozil.

After all, Arsenal's attacking quartet in 2012-13 was very balanced, with all four players -- Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla -- reaching double figures in terms of Premier League goals. The consensus was that Arsenal required the types of player Arsenal always seem to require: a solid defensive midfielder, or a commanding centre-back. Maybe a top-class goalkeeper, maybe even a more mobile centre-forward.

But, in addition to Yaya Sanogo and Mathieu Flamini, who cost nothing, Arsenal paid for only a single player that summer: Ozil. It was an…