Ander Herrera: 'Mesut Ozil is inconsistent'

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

The German has been one of Arsenal's standout performers this season with 17 assists in the Premier League already, but Herrera suggested that he could play second fiddle to Andres Iniesta in the last-16 tie against the reigning European champions.

Despite that, the Spaniard believes that it will be an "equal" contest between the two sides due to Arsenal's greater belief both home and abroad this season.

"I believe that in this year it will be more complicated for Barca. 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," Herrera told Marca.

"It will be a beautiful knockout game. I believe it will be equal. Barca alternate possession stages with a game without the ball. And Arsenal dominate the game very much, but they also attack quickly, with Alexis [Sanchez], [Theo] Walcott and [Alex] Oxlade-[Chamberlain]. That's why it's going to be a beautiful match. It's a shame that [Santi] Cazorla won't be there, because he always makes the difference.

"If [Lionel] Messi is on one of those days, there's almost nothing to do. But, of course, your mission as an opponent is to try to make him not have that day. I've played against Leo many times and at San Memes I've won one and drawn two. I mean, he is beatable. But if he is well, 100%, and has one of those days, you either pray or say goodbye. 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. Arsenal have [Francis] Coquelin, Ozil... Mesut isn't so consistent, but he makes the difference when he's on his day."

Arsenal have been knocked out in the last 16 of the Champions League in each of the past five seasons.