DUBAI – Arsenal midfielder Mesut Özil’s reaction to having a bread thrown at him by fans has won him praise. After kissing the bread and touching it to his head, he carefully placed it on the ground.

The incident happened during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final at the Emirates on Thursday, IlmFeed reported.

Shortly after the bread incident, in the 82nd minute, there erupted a huge cheer from Atletico Madrid fans, some of whom had thrown the bread, though many of them couldn’t figure out why he did it.

As a third-generation Turkish-German practicing Muslim, Ozil sees wasting food as something discouraged in Islam, because food is deemed a blessing from Allah.

His gesture certainly represents a mark of gratitude and thanks for being given the food.

Ozil is reported to be observing prayer seconds before the start of every game he takes place in, and he recently posted a picture of himself in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia.