The next sequence was even more revealing. Arsenal won a free kick in a dangerous position, and Özil stepped up to take it. Mateo watched from thirty yards away as the German went through his pre-kick routine – three steps back, a deep breath, eyes scanning the penalty area for options.
That's exactly what I do, Mateo thought, fascinated despite himself.
But what happened next was extraordinary. As Özil prepared to deliver the ball, Mateo found himself unconsciously moving to where he would want to be if he were taking the free kick. Not to defend against it, but to the position where he would aim the ball if he were in Özil's shoes.
The realization hit him like a physical blow. He was thinking like Özil, predicting not just what the German would do, but where he would want his teammates to be. And sure enough, when Özil delivered the cross, it went exactly where Mateo had anticipated – a perfect ball to the back post that Giroud just failed to connect with.
