Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has responded to critics of his decision to swap shirts with Geoffrey Kondogbia at half-time of last night's clash with Monaco with a statement that rings true, surely there was something better to talk about on a night of high drama at the Stade Louis II?
The Gunners came within a whisker of becoming the first team to overturn a two-goal deficit away from home in a Champions League knockout tie, but ultimately goals from Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey weren't enough to avert an agonising exit from Europe's premier club competition on away goals.
Ozil was at the heartbeat of a spirited fightback that came up just short, but despite producing one of his best performances in an Arsenal shirt the focus was on accepting Kondogbia's invitation to exchange shirts, with Paul Scholes among the pundits quick to seize upon a chance to slam a £42.4m playmaker that continues to divide opinion.
Immediately after the miracle in Monaco narrowly failed to materialise Ozil was asked by German television why he swapped shirts with an opponent at half-time, which for some reason seems to annoy some supporters who must feel it shows a lack of commitment to the cause.
Ozil replied with a short, simple pair of sentences that are very hard to disagree with. In an interview quoted by Bild the maestro said: "Maybe I should have given him the shirt in the tunnel. But seriously guys, is there nothing more important to discuss for a knockout game than a shirt swap?"
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