The Premier League is not the place to go if you are looking for the subtleties of the game. However, players like Mesut Ozil and David Silva are a gift to the league that we too often take for granted. Guile and intelligent midfield movement from the Spaniard and the German is a pleasant relief from the brash, full-tilt play of so many players in the division.

The careers of Silva and Ozil are wonderfully decorated at both club and international level, yet their roles in their sides mean they really do rely on the players around them. Neither the Spaniard nor the German are regularly on the scoresheet, while their game requires space to be created for them and for runners to be around them. Any player whose game revolves around chance creation is likely to be judged as much on their team-mates as on their own merits.

Ozil’s time at Real Madrid was such a resounding success because of the runs made by Cristiano Ronaldo and, for many similar reasons, Silva looks a far better player when playing behind Sergio Aguero. The pinpoint accuracy of Silva and Ozil’s through balls can only be witnessed when a player, preferably with pace, is willing to make runs that push defenders back towards their own goal. When it comes to picking one or the other, Silva and Ozil are not easy to judge based on their own performances, but their ability to fit in and contribute to the system used.

For so many sides, a player of the ilk of Silva or Ozil will not work in the system, or, if you are Jose Mourinho, will not fit in with the athletic requirements. Ozil, more than Silva, has faced a lot of unfair criticism for an apparent lack of work rate, as his languid style doesn’t exactly excite the neanderthals among the English football supporting public.

A culture where we admire players, sometimes rightly, for their ground covered and prefer a hard worker to someone immensely more talented does not make it easy for Silva or Ozil. The appreciation for Silva has been more widespread, and Ozil’s lack of appearances in the 'No.10' role has perhaps been of detriment to his performances.

Two World Cup winners who can pull off anything with the ball at their feet demand respect that they are not given regularly enough. Unfortunately, Manuel Pellegrini and Arsene Wenger respectively too often operate with their star creators in a wide position, and the genius of Silva and Ozil is too easily overlooked for the more showy play of Philippe Coutinho or Eden Hazard.

Their respective managers must look to build their sides so we see Ozil and Silva operate centrally. As we have seen with so many players, versatility can restrict even the best from fulfilling their true potential, and if either Arsenal or Manchester City are to challenge for the title they must make the most of two truly world-class stars.

Disappointingly, we live in a world where Andy Carroll is still thought of by some as a potential England player, and that is an damning indictment of the football culture in the UK. David Silva and Mesut Ozil could not be further away from Carroll or Kevin Davies (thankfully) but two World Cup winners are two of the most underrated players in the league.

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