Mesut Ozil Let Down by Arsenal Team-Mates in Bayern Loss, Says Oliver Bierhoff

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil did not deserve to be singled out after the Gunners' 5-1 UEFA Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich and was let down by his team-mates in the drubbing, according to Germany national team general manager Oliver Bierhoff.

The 28-year-old playmaker was widely criticised after the Bayern defeat at the Allianz Arena last month as he failed to make an impression on the encounter despite being one of Arsenal's key players:

As far as Bierhoff is concerned, though, Ozil was not given enough support by his team-mates, and he compared the Arsenal man with fellow Germany international Julian Draxler, who he feels has benefited from having the right players around him at Paris Saint-Germain, per Sport Bild (via ESPN.com's Stephan Uersfeld). 

"If I look at Mesut Ozil, who was singled out following the 5-1 loss to Bayern...in that match there wasn't much support for a player like Mesut, who lives on his footballing qualities," Bierfoff said. "The team let him down a bit. [Draxler] has got very good footballers around him. That helps him."

Ozil has regularly been criticised for failing to perform in big matches or take responsibility for the side since he made a £42.4 million switch to the Emirates Stadium in 2013, per Sky Sports' Gary Neville.

He enjoyed a brilliant 2015-16 campaign with Arsenal as he finally began to live up to his hefty price tag with six league goals and 19 assists, per WhoScored.com.

However, his inconsistency has returned in 2016-17, and it is no surprise that Arsenal are also struggling as a result.

Ozil has not scored a goal in any competition for Arsenal since Dec. 10—a nine-match drought—while his assists tally in the Premier League in the current campaign stands at just four. 

His impact in 2016-17 is thrown into harsh reality when compared with former Gunner Cesc Fabregas' contribution in a limited role for Chelsea, per WhoScored's Ben McAleer:

However, Bierhoff clearly feels his compatriot has been harshly treated and that Ozil is burdened with undue responsibility at Arsenal.

It is still unclear whether Ozil will remain at Arsenal past the summer as he has yet to put pen to paper on a new deal—his current contract expires in 2018—per the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel.

The greater concern at Arsenal will be that he finds a vein of form that can help them in their bid to qualify for next season's Champions League, as the Gunners are just one point above fifth place in the Premier League following two defeats in their last three matches.