Explainer · Updated October 2026
The Ozil Bounce, Explained
The Ozil bounce, also called the Ozil chop, is Mesut Özil's trademark finish when a goalkeeper rushes out. Instead of chipping the ball, he chops down on it so it hits the ground and bounces up over the keeper.
What the Ozil bounce is
A normal chip lifts the ball over the keeper in an arc. Özil's version goes the other way: he chops down on the ball, drives it into the turf and lets it bounce up over the keeper's dive. The ball spends less time in the air than a chip, so it reaches the goal line sooner.
On Match of the Day, Ian Wright put it simply: "Instead of chipping it over a keeper he bounces it over him." It goes by both names: Arsenal's own 2020 video calls it his "bounce shot" and the "chop shot".
Özil on how he does it
Speaking to DAZN in 2019, as reported by Goal, Özil said the bounce is about time: with a normal chip, "maybe a recovering defender can reach the ball before it crosses the line."
In a 2020 Arsenal video, quoted by Sportskeeda, he explained the technique: keep the ball close to you and hit it with power from the instep.
Five Ozil bounce goals
Goals that match reports or analysis pieces explicitly describe as his bounce or chop finish.
| Match | Date | Keeper | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal 3–0 Chelsea, Premier League | 24 Sep 2016 | Thibaut Courtois | Planet Football |
| Arsenal 3–3 Liverpool, Premier League | 22 Dec 2017 | Simon Mignolet | Goal |
| Arsenal 5–1 Bournemouth, Premier League | 27 Feb 2019 | Artur Boruc | Ian Wright, Match of the Day |
| Arsenal 2–3 Crystal Palace, Premier League | 21 Apr 2019 | Vicente Guaita | Planet Football |
| Gaziantep FK vs Fenerbahçe, Süper Lig | 13 Dec 2021 | — | Planet Football |
The Ozil bounce and the Ozil AI trend
The goal in the Ozil AI trend is a different one: his late winner at Ludogorets on 1 November 2016. The BBC's report says he "chipped the keeper and cut inside two defenders before slotting in from close range". Özil later called it the best goal of his career.
Some AI tool sites call the trend "the Ozil bounce goal", but match reports describe the Ludogorets finish as a chip, not a bounce. Either way, the AI versions keep the whole move: keeper out, ball over him, two defenders sliding past, empty net.
FAQ
Q1What is the Ozil bounce?
Mesut Özil's trademark finish against an onrushing goalkeeper: he chops down on the ball so it hits the ground and bounces up over the keeper, instead of chipping it in an arc.
Q2Is the Ozil bounce the same as a chip?
No. A chip lifts the ball in an arc; the bounce is driven into the ground and kicks up. Özil said it gives a recovering defender less time to reach the ball before it crosses the line.
Q3Which goals did Özil score with the bounce?
Among them: Arsenal 3–0 Chelsea (2016), Arsenal 3–3 Liverpool (2017), Arsenal 5–1 Bournemouth and Arsenal 2–3 Crystal Palace (both 2019), and a goal for Fenerbahçe at Gaziantep (2021).
Q4Is the goal in the Ozil AI trend an Ozil bounce?
The trend uses his winner at Ludogorets in 2016. Match reports describe that finish as a chip over the keeper, not a bounce, though some AI tool sites call the trend "the Ozil bounce goal".
Q5When did Mesut Özil retire?
He announced his retirement on 22 March 2023, while at İstanbul Başakşehir.
Sources: Goal, Sportskeeda, The Football Faithful, Planet Football, BBC, CBS Sports.