When Arsenal paid a club record 42 million pounds ($69.84 million) for Mesut Ozil last August it was with nights like Tuesday in Munich in mind.
Trailing 2-0 from the first leg of the Champions League last 16 tie against holders Bayern, it was the perfect stage for Germany playmaker Ozil to deliver a grandstand performance.
What transpired, however, was a brief cameo as Ozil vanished at half-time with a hamstring niggle after being virtually invisible for the opening 45 minutes in the Allianz.
Arsenal eventually bowed out after a battling 1-1 draw and their season is in danger of fizzling out.
After setting the pace in the Premier League Arsenal are now seven points behind leaders Chelsea with a game in hand after registering only one league win in their last four.
Their best bet of ending a nine-year wait for silverware rests with the FA Cup where they face second tier Wigan Athletic in the semifinals.
Manager Arsene Wenger will point to long-term injuries to Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott, while Jack Wilshere is now also sidelined with a broken foot sustained on England duty.
Ozil's worrying loss of form will be as perplexing for the Frenchman as his likely three-week lay-off. He has not scored in the Premier League since before Christmas.
