From the meltdown on social media, it would appear not everyone agreed with Robbie Savage that Mesut Ozil was the only world-class outfield player on the pitch in the north London derby.
As ever, MirrorFootball pundit Savage polarised opinions like Trump and Clinton, and his e-postbag was overflowing before the 1-1 draw at the Emirates.
Here, he sifts through some of your correspondence and exercises his right of reply in Sav Says...
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DavidFleming777: Cast your mind back to last year. Ozil was the world's worst according to Gunner fans, a lazy mercenary who only turns up whenever it pleases him, and also the cries for Wenger out? Arsenal had to depend on Spurs messing up 2nd place to save their season... Ozil is not world class, he's a RM (Real Madrid) reject, if he was world-class he would still be over here with RM who have 10 Champions Leagues to their name.
SAV SAYS: “Easy, tiger! A bit harsh to call Ozil a Real Madrid reject when his stats put him up there with the best providers of assists in TWO of the toughest divisions in the world, La Liga and the Premier League . He didn't have his best game in the north London derby, but he was still instrumental in Arsenal's goal. And the Gunners didn't depend on Spurs messing up at the death to nick runners-up in the title race last season – it's a 38-game campaign, not just a bunch sprint in the last few weeks.”
GGN17: World class player?!!! Still a Madrid reject... Madrid don't sell world class players. They buy them... Ronaldo, Zidane, Bale, Modric to name but a few.
SAV SAYS: “And another one... OK, here are the stats, judge for yourself whether Ozil can play. At Madrid, he scored 19 goals in 105 appearances. He cost the highest-ever fee paid for a German player when he joined them after the 2010 World Cup, where he was the top assist provider. In his first season at the Bernabeu, his 25 assists was the highest in any major league in Europe; in his second season he was shortlisted for the Ballon d'Or after another 17 assists, the most in La Liga; and over three seasons he laid on more goals for team-mates than any other player in Spain. Some reject, eh?”
goonerism: Bloody hell Savage, you just guaranteed a Harry Kane hat-trick!!!
SAV SAYS: “No, he just got the one – and that wasn't from open play.”
737flyer: Robbie, who's your tip for the title this week? You've said United the last two seasons. How's that looking now? I don't read your drivel and surprised anyone does.
Have your say in the comments below
SAV SAYS: “For someone who never reads my drivel, you seem to know a lot about my title predictions. And if it's drivel, why have you bothered to write in? Since you have taken the trouble, yes – I tipped United to win the title before a ball was kicked, and so did lots of other people. They have left themselves with a lot to do, but they are only eight points off the pace without playing well. They could still get right in the thick of it if they strung a few wins together.”
jona100: The debate on how many world class players in the EPL: So 7 out of the 13 you named as world class, or borderline world class, in your list play in the PL... that's quite a good % right?
SAV SAYS: “I don't believe that a league which pays such high wages, and where there is a colossal amount of TV money floating around, has a high enough ratio of world-class players. Let's put it this way, if two star names I rated as potentially world-class – for argument's sake, let's say Eden Hazard and Philippe Coutinho – were sold tomorrow, where would they go? Answer: Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich . Why? Not for the money, but because that's where many current world-class players are already on the staff.”
@Charles_Thechip: Just because United paid £90m for Pogba doesn't make him world class!! If I paid £90m for a Corsa it doesn't become the best car of all
SAV SAYS: “Mate, if you pay £90m for a Vauxhall Corsa, you've been had – my local dealer can do it much cheaper! You're right that price tags don't automatically turn players into world-class talents alone, but there are not many players who could have scored the goal Pogba tucked away at Swansea last weekend. As a general rule, like other walks of life, in __football you get what you pay for. If you have £90m to spend on a single player, you are more likely to spend it on a guy who ran the show for Juventus, the Serie A champions, than a non-league full-back... aren't you?”
@davverplatt: What is world class? Good enough to get in the best world XI? Good enough to be an international?
SAV SAYS: “There are lots of components that make up a world-class player, but my criteria would be (a) Exceptional skill, pace, technique or all three (b) Ability to change the course of a game in an instant (c) Consistency of performance over a long period of time – years not just a few weeks or months (d) Producing your best on the big occasions, not just a flat-track bully against lesser lights (e) Big personality and charisma (f) One of the best, if not the best, in your position (g) Showing leadership and embracing the big moments – like taking crucial penalties. How's that for starters? Oh, and I've seen lots of lousy footballers who somehow played international games – a cap doesn't make you world-class.”
@vyshak_gunner: Cech, Bellerin, Ramsey, Cazorla, Sanchez, Koscielny, Xhaka? What are they, ballboys?
SAV SAYS: “Are you seriously suggesting all those players are world-class? Take your rose-tinted specs off, my friend, and let's get real. Cech? Yes, he probably was world-class once, but not any more. Bellerin? Huge potential, but he's only won the FA Cup so far. Ramsey? Good player, not world class. Cazorla? Same again. Sanchez? Like I said in the column, he's borderline world-class already. Koscielny? Gave away the penalty against Tottenham. Xhaka? Nope, not having that.”
@althomas90: So there are no world-class defenders Robbie? All players you mentioned are forwards... can't see that world class team keeping a clean sheet.
SAV SAYS: “It's true there is probably a worldwide shortage of top-class defenders in the mould of Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi, who once conceded just 23 goals in 196 as a partnership at AC Milan. Vincent Kompany was probably world-class when he led Manchester City to the title in 2012, but he is struggling to get on the park these days, and I like Toby Alderweireld at Tottenham – he is probably the most influential member of an excellent defensive unit, but is he world-class? He didn't look quite up to that standard for Belgium in the Euros. Of the Premier League's current crop, John Stones has the biggest potential to graduate to world-class stature. Oh, and my list was not a Sav World XI: It's just a fact that when you hand over top dollar to watch football, it's usually attacking flair you are paying to see.”
And finally...
@TrickTrick85: Ok then, Scored less than Son, assisted less than Eriksen. “World class”
SAV SAYS: “You what? Heung-min Son has done well for Spurs, especially when Harry Kane was injured, and I like Christian Eriksen, but if you round up all the Arsenal fans who would swap Mesut Ozil for either of them, I'll find you a phone box for you to discuss it with them.”