Ozil second only to Cantona on assist chart through 100 Premier League games

Mesut Ozil reached another notable career landmark on Boxing Day as he helped Arsenal to a narrow 1-0 win over West Brom.

That fixture took the Germany international to 100 Premier League appearances for the Gunners – with the occasion marked with an assist for Olivier Giroud’s match winner.

He has been a regular source of creativity for Arsenal throughout his time in north London, with Arsene Wenger’s side often looking to him for inspiration.

Ozil has not let them down, with 20 goals added to the cause over the course of three-and-a-half seasons.

It is, however, the number of assists he has provided which marks him out from his playmaking rivals.

Only one man can claim to have bettered Ozil’s return through 100 Premier League outings, with the World Cup winner registering 36.

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona managed 39 in the same period, with an iconic figure of the recent past only narrowly edging out a superstar of the modern era.

Ozil’s value to Arsenal can also been seen in other numbers posted by the title hopefuls against West Brom on Monday.

The Gunners fired in 26 shots against the Baggies, compared to just three mustered by their opponents, with that margin the widest in a top-flight fixture this season.

That tally was also the highest managed by Wenger’s men since they beat Leicester City 5-2 in September 2015.