Mesut Ozil

Herrera accuses Arsenal star Ozil of lacking consistency

Published Feb. 23, 2016 11:35 a.m. ET

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Ander Herrera has accused midfielder Mesut Ozil of lacking consistency ahead of Arsenal's Champions League clash with Barcelona.

The Gunners host the reigning champions on Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

German international Ozil has been outstanding for Arsenal in the Premier League with 17 assists so far but Herrera believes he could play second fiddle to Spanish maestro Andres Iniesta against Barca.

"For me there's only one Iniesta. I love playing against him, to tell my grandchildren in the future, but I suffer as a rival," Herrera told Marca.

"Arsenal have [Francis] Coquelin, Ozil... Mesut isn't so consistent, but he makes the difference when he's on his day."

In addition to Iniesta, Arsenal will have to cope with Barcelona's fearsome forward trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Argentine superstar Messi picked up a record fifth Ballon d'Or award earlier this season and is aiming to win his fifth Champions League winners medal with Barcelona in Milan's San Siro Stadium in May.

When asked how to stop Messi, Herrera said: "If he has his day, there's little you can do.

"Of course, your job as the opposition is to ensure that he does not have his day, but if he is 100 per cent on form and has his day, either pray or you can forget about it."

Arsenal head into the tie as sizeable underdogs against Europe's form team but Herrera believes the Premier League side could pull off an upset against the fancied Catalans.

"I believe that in this year it will be more complicated for Barca," Herrera said. "I think Arsenal, besides having many good footballers, they believe in themselves this season, both in the Premier League as in the Champions League. They've been winning cups and they are better now.

"Yeah, I see Barca as superiors. Not much superiors, but superiors at the end of the day. It will be a beautiful knockout game."

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