Mesut Ozil dropped a beast of a press release about his treatment over the World Cup issues. His angst seems to centre around his belief that his Turkish heritage has made him a scapegoat for a shit show from the national team. He also seems very upset at the damage the picture of him with the Turkish President has done, particularly with charity partners who have abandoned him.
I feel for him. The racist overtones in the press are awful, it’s unfair that his performances at the World Cup are seen through dual nationality. However, I can’t feel for him losing partners. Standing tall with authoritarianism was an ignorant move. Whether he was badly advised, or he just didn’t think it through, when you align with a tyrant, you’ve opened yourself up to criticism. Erdogan is a monster, he is savaging Turkish institutions that protect democracy and regardless of where your heritage sits, to be seen as normalizing that with a photo opp is beyond stupid.
Where he does have a point is that in a society that’s said fuck it to consequences for behaviour in poor taste, it’s interesting that a German-Turk gets the full force of alienation. Still, I struggle with whataboutism when it comes to monsters. Mesut’s reasoning for the photo is that he didn’t want to disrespect his ancestry. I find that weak. He might think it’s just a cute pic for the family, but for others, it was normalising a tyrant. Tell your story of ‘I didn’t think of anything other than the pic’ to the jailed judges, civil servants and free press.
Ozil has a massive PR job on his hands, I’m not sure he’s going to shift sentiment with juvenile PR releases that seem to lack a north star. He should own the mistake, make a statement on the pitch and try and and remedy the broken trust with the German public with actions.
In CEO news, the Ivan G story won’t budge with Corriere stating he’s the choice for AC Milan and he’ll head there this September. Now this has been rolling in the media for a week without a firm statement of denial, you have to wonder if the smoke is starting to choke out the truth.
I’d still be surprised if he moved. It’d be a desperately poor show of leadership. He’s spent 9 months in real control of the club. He’s pulled in executives from around the world to guide his vision, luring them based on the trust he’ll be here to support the project. To duck out at the first glamorous door knock would tell you a lot about who is really is if he does it. He’ll be leaving a junior project rudderless, which in the short term could be damaging especially if the new manager doesn’t pan out. More to the point, CEO search and select isn’t a two-week process. It takes months. You have to craft plans, interview with a load of people, meet and greet staff and negotiate complicated compensation deals. If this story is true, he’s been making extremely long-term decisions for Arsenal with his head in AC Milan clouds. That’s really shitty if true.
In the grand scheme of things, it’s not a big deal. He’s been a solid administrator. He’s overseen a tough stadium move and we’re A-Ok. But really, can you say he blew it out the park? It took him 12 years to convince Stan that Wenger was a dud. He oversaw a train wreck transfer policy, he allowed Wenger to grow a ridiculous socialist wage policy, he was ineffectual at implementing a rugged football infrastructure and he lied to the fans over and over again. Not just that, look at our commercial deals. Hardly inspiring, are they?
He has the chance at to shape his legacy at a club he can become a legend. I hope he stays on, but if he doesn’t, it’s an opportunity to hire in someone who can find that elusive next level.
Finally, Arsenal is linked to the very sexy Yann Sommer. The 29-year-old Swiss was excellent at the world cup and he’d move as competition to Leno. That’d give me some relief.
Right, I’m ducking out. x
do what makes you happy, Weagle. don’t feel tied to Arsenal because a friend told you they were cool when you were twelve.
Thought you were better than that Wallace. Someone doesn’t agree with you and you’re response is to tell them to go support someone else. Shame
Mysticleaves
“Chika, to think that people here, supposedly Arsenal fans are using it to demean Ozil is cringe worthy.”
I wonder how he won the German player of the year five times if he was so shit.
It’s also stupid how the ITKs keep bringing up his wages to slate him.
‘Trembling.’Don’t
Don’t what mystic?
“When you align with a tyrant, you’ve opened yourself up to criticism.”
Align? LoL
Mystic I don’t give a shit about the Erdogan thing, I don’t give a shit about Germany or Turkey. I don’t like the way Ozil ‘performs’ for Arsenal, my gripe with Ozil is his performances for Arsenal, I am not German and I’m not Turkish therefore I could give a flying f**k about those things outside of the point that taking a selfie with a tyrannical dictator who is amassing a ridiculous amount of power in himself by stomping his opposition, who has done ridiculous things like promoted his brother to govern the economy of Turkey and is pulling Turkey… Read more »
I wonder how he won the German player of the year five times if he was so shit.
What does that have to do with anything? Does that give him a free pass from any sort of criticism does it? I mean I don’t get it he just HAD a poor world cup he’s coming off of the back of two poor seasons for Arsenal football club these are facts. Should he not face any criticism ever is that it?
Why is judging someone by how much they earn stupid?
Does your boss judge you the same if you were on £18 000 a year as opposed to being on £200 000 a year?
Simple question, having signed a £350 000 a week deal were Ozil’s performances in the second half of the season befitting of a player on that money? Do you even think his carry on was acceptable?
Massive season for Ozil, either pulls his socks up and proves everyone wrong, or goes out like a massive pussy
I particular love how Ozil went on holiday first, had a great time then eventually decided to release his statement. All at his own convenience. Like a boss!
CA
Ozil doesn’t perform well for Arsenal over the course of a season but yet his whoscored rating for last season was 7.32 over 44 games.
Erikson is praised on here as one of the best 10, yet his whoscored rating is 7.34 over 52 games.
Keita the second coming of Jesus is on 7.37 over a 42 game season.
You wonder how Ozil deceives even the stats people. Maybe his laziness and lack of application scores him points?
Ozil will be 30 soon.
He will be retiring playing for Arsenal soon enough as well. Can’t see him playing on into his 30s at Arsenal.
It’s end days for Ozil.
Just like he knew it was end days for him with the German national team. And that is strictly on the playing side of things regardless of the furore over the Turkish pic.
I particular love how Ozil went on holiday first, had a great time then eventually decided to release his statement. All at his own convenience. Like a boss!
I see what you did there but he was criticised for not responding sooner. Gundogen addressed it before the world cup whereas Ozil stayed silent had a poor world cup went on holiday and then finally released a statement. From a perception point of view it doesn’t look good. Point is this whole thing was avoidable if only he was a little smarter
“Massive season for Ozil”
And it’s not massive season for Welbeck? It’s a massive season for all the players. If it doesn’t work out for Ozil and Emery, he might just change clubs like a massive pussy. No biggie.
Ozil has conducted himself with dignity in view of the behaviour of German Media, Football Establishment and a number of ex German International players who have questioned not only his loyalty, but also highlighted negatively his performance in World Cup. Let’s be clear Ozil’s performance was not great, but that can be directed to almost the entire German National Team. My guess is that Ozil will be treated next season with respect and support by the coaching staff and players at Arsenal and hopefully that will bring out the best in his performance for us. One or two of the… Read more »
Marko i bet you Gundagon would bite off his hands to have taken back time and done and Ozil. He said wat the press wanted him to say, that’s outright bullying and he fell for it.
I love the fact Ozil stood his ground.
Let’s be clear Ozil’s performance was not great, but that can be directed to almost the entire German National Team They were all criticized. My guess is that Ozil will be treated next season with respect and support by the coaching staff and players at Arsenal and hopefully that will bring out the best in his performance for us. He wasn’t the last two seasons? Was that all that was lacking from Wenger to get the best out of him? Respect and support? One or two of the posters have demonstrated that they are racists and that is in itself… Read more »
Ozil isn’t going to change his ways now nearing 30 years old.
He will still be the same old Ozil. Good bits and the bad.
Emery might get a season out of him perhaps a little more but if he stays right to the end of his contract when he will be 32 yo it will be cameo appearances from him off the bench.
Mystic I don’t care what his bloody Whoscored rating is. I know what I see with him, I know that he disappears when we need him most, I know he literally fucked off on holiday and was ‘ill’ much of the second half of the season but then will turn in a 9 performances against bags of shit at home. I’m not saying Ozil is shit, what he does he’s reasonably good at, but its the fact all he wants to do is that as is too one dimensional for the modern game. Look at how De Bruyne changed his… Read more »
“He was criticised for not responding sooner.”
There is a clear difference between criticism and a witch hunt.
“It’s end days for Ozil.”
Like you said, he’s approaching 30, don’t you think it’s end days for footballers or is Ozil a special case?
Marko i bet you Gundagon would bite off his hands to have taken back time and done and Ozil. He said wat the press wanted him to say, that’s outright bullying and he fell for it.I love the fact Ozil stood his ground.
Bullying? You haven’t a clue mate. Also Ozil didn’t stand his ground he didn’t do anything he went on holiday. Standing your ground might have meant actually making a statement but he did nothing
We all knew Ozil was going to be the whipping boy for Germany’s horrible world cup performance .There’s no surprise there.
Arsenal need to release a statement of support.
Gooners have to stand by him.
I can’t believe Ozil has a poor world cup goes on holiday and some people are giving him credit for standing his ground? Sure why not
Chika “Like you said, he’s approaching 30, don’t you think it’s end days for footballers or is Ozil a special case?” I think the way Ozil plays and is programmed he will get more laid back in his play in the future. It’s the way he is. Can you see him busting a gut at 32yo for Arsenal? lol He’s had his real good time and it was in the past. As said Emery could get something out of him this coming season and perhaps a little more but after that proper vacation time for Ozil. He’ll be strolling about… Read more »
You think Emery will specifically demand that Ozil play better because he earns 350k weekly? Would you be more accepting of his “languid and lazy” style if he was on 200k?
It seems a lot of Arsenal fans are accountants by default.
The relationship between post world war 2 Germany and the Turks that came to help to rebuild the country has always been laced with some ugly stuff. It took forever to give them m citizenship status.
Then comes Ozil, the German answer to Messi, they took to him as 100% German. They just happened to forget that he’s also 100% Turkish.
National identity in the age of dual citizenship is complicated. Ozil just exemplifies the conflicted patriotism people can have.
It’s like being Russian and American in the current US political climate.
Lol Wallace ok, I forgot that not rating Ozil means I’m not a ‘true’ Arsenal supporter.
What a great fucking contract he got from Arsenal eh.
Not just the lolly. He can sit at Arsenal nearing 33 years old. See out his full contract if he wants.
Not exactly a massive crowd for United’s game, again.
‘You think Emery will specifically demand that Ozil play better because he earns 350k weekly?’
You don’t?
How many times a day do you fall down the stairs?
Marko
So announcing that you will never play for German again is not standing your
ground! Okay some in German media and ex German Internationals will say
good riddance.
However there are an awful lot of footballers in Germany who are of foreign
parentage and some of them will think twice about representing Germany.
For a start I wonder how Sane will react in view of his exclusion from WC
this summer?
world wants you to issue a statement of apology of what THEY perceive as wrong doing, you fuck them and go on a holiday. Come back later to destroy their sense of entitlement over YOUR activities.
If thats not standing your ground then I dunno what it is. Marko you have to be on some winding up, as usual with all cases Arsenal recently.
UP
I mean sure there were a few that didn’t want United selling Welbeck, same as for any other decent player, it’s rarely unanimous.
Most United supporters were not losing sleep over it.
“I think the way Ozil plays and is programmed he will get more laid back in his play in the future. It’s the way he is.”
errm isn’t it same for every footballer? Or you think Huddlestone would keep waxing stronger even in his 30s? LoL
Emirates
Do you really think there was a future for Ozil in the German national team anyway regardless of the Turkish pic malarkey?
As said before the guy will be 30 in a few months and Germany were going to purge that team anyway and Ozil was highly likely to be one of those that was discarded. This is regardless of Mr Erdogan.
It’s going to take sometime for the German FA to recover from this.
It’s one to exit the world cup final in the first round as defending champions.
It’s another thing to be accused of bigotry by the player Germany put up as the symbol of the multi-culturally inclusive society they’ve become.
Chik
”errm isn’t it same for every footballer? Or you think Huddlestone would keep waxing stronger even in his 30s?”
Isn’t an even more laid back Ozil in the future a little worrisome for you?
Maybe not because as said before if he sees out his full contract he will be making little cameo appearances off the bench by the end of his tenure.
The Phil Neville of Le grove.
However there are an awful lot of footballers in Germany who are of foreign
parentage and some of them will think twice about representing Germany.
For a start I wonder how Sane will react in view of his exclusion from WC
this summer?
The sane situation isn’t even connected to the other but I see what you tried to do there. Yeah I don’t care what happens to Germany now. Will his performances improve for us that’s the question now
Dissenter
“It’s going to take sometime for the German FA to recover from this.”
“It’s another thing to be accused of bigotry by the player Germany put up as the symbol of the multi-culturally inclusive society they’ve become.”
They’ll get over it and they will pick more players in the future that are not seen as pure Deutsch whatever that is.
But it will be helpful if that player that is not pure Deutsch sings the national anthem of his birth and doesn’t call someone not from the country of his birth “my president”
Ish
“Isn’t an even more laid back Ozil in the future a little worrisome for you?”
You want me to start getting worried with how Ozil might be playing in 2/3 years time? LoL ok then.
Ishola just because one is born somewhere doesn’t mean he throws away his country of origin. His family’s country.
None of them begged to play for Germany, mind. Germany picked them
Was Ozil singing the anthem in 2014 when they won the world cup?
Chik
So Ozil is a short-term prospect then?
How many season(s) Arsenal get out of him? Proper seasons that is where he is virtually a continued presence in the team and is on it for most of the season?
His past record is not very encouraging is it really.
Mysticleaves
“Ishola just because one is born somewhere doesn’t mean he throws away his country of origin. His family’s country.”
Shhhhh don’t go there.
“How many season(s) Arsenal get out of him? Proper seasons that is where he is virtually a continued presence in the team and is on it for most of the season?”
Hold on Ishola70, I’m checking my crystal ball?
mysticleaves
“just because one is born somewhere doesn’t mean he throws away his country of origin. His family’s country.”
No-one is asking him to throw away his country of origin.
But some may be asking as well as keeping ties with his country of origin that he shows the usual respect for the country he was born in and that would include joining in with the singing of the national anthem with your team-mates and not referring to a person not of your birth country “my president”.
Ishola
“just because one is born somewhere doesn’t mean he throws away his country of origin. His family’s country.”
Exactly, i’m a firm believer that one should play for the Father’s side of the family.
“A member of the German parliament says the resignation of Mesut Özil shames Germany. Calls for the head of the Football Association, Grindel, and Oliver Bierhoff to be sacked.”
There’s only one winner in this mess.
Chika-Chik
There’s no winners in this.
Ozil is playing the race card…. disgraceful
Ishola70
Chika-Chik
“There’s no winners in this.”
It’s fine, don’t hurt your head. You’d catch up eventually.
United really poor against San Jose
Chika-Chik
Catch up on the winner of the Ozil/Germany – Erdogan/ pic scandal?
Yeah right.
And the winner is ………………………………………(drum roll)………………………….Mesut Oziiill.
Hurrah!
“Germany gone xenophobic over ozil, it ain’t racist….They can’t keep picking turkey , Poland , ausrtain players… then saying they are good german when all’is well. Always has been a nasty bullying country.”
https://youtu.be/vqIsenRl_Wk?t=3m30s
“Ozil is playing the race card…. disgraceful”
Turks aren’t a race. Why do you make it so hard to love you?
I said a few months back that the Wenger obsessives will turn their obsession and hate towards Ozil and its happening sooner than I thought ….sad people
Don’t they match your thoughts on Ramsey, Pierre? Better put yourself on the top of the ‘Ignorant” and ‘Sad’ lists. We already know your head the ‘Hypocrites’, ‘Stats’ and ‘Thick’ lists. Quite a collection of trophies your notching up there, but then you were always a great believer in 4th is a trophy and 4 cups in 5 years but none in the preceding what 11 years? And no titles in 14 years. However, the ball is firmly in Ozil’s court for this season, especially with no international football now he’s retired. Going to be very interesting to see how… Read more »
Exactly, i’m a firm believer that one should play for the Father’s side of the family
In your case Red that’s Mars right?
Tony (I’m incredibly richer than you )D.. Ozil will continue to do what ozil does best and also what he does worst, in that he will pass the ball to a team mate , he will continue to create chances, he will continue to make the game look easy and alternately , he will continue to be weak in the air ,he will continue to struggle against the high press, he will continue to be.poor defensively. What will change is what goes on around him …. There will be better midfield protection , we have better strikers who hopefully will… Read more »
I’ve been critical of ozil and his play and attitude. However he is right in what he did and more power to him. This is bigger than sport, whether the photo was a good decision or not, he should not be subjected to the abuse he gets based on his heritage. Compare this to the shitty performances of mueller and other pure white Germans on that team. I’m glad he took a stand. Take the sport aspect out of this and you have something much more sinister when it’s been all boiled down.
(I hate people richer than me) Pierre
Partly fair assumption but you missed out we are hoping he is going to change – he will be lazy, go missing in big matches and needing holidays when he doesn’t fancy playing.
Can He change and can Emery get the best out of Him?
We’ll find out in a few weeks.
I thought he might do something like this and I mentioned as such a few days ago. Mesut’s strategy is player power at an international level. He wants to feel wanted before he goes back to wearing German colours. In a strange way this works to Arsenal’s advantage. We get a very motivated player who will be fired up to prove his detractors wrong. Hopefully he will up his game to such an extent that the clamour to get him back on the national team will be great. I wouldn’t be surprised if he plans to completely retire then —… Read more »
1. Ozil: who gives a fuck?
2. Gazidis: see no.1.
Iwobi for £22m to Lazio? Bite. Hand. Off. Fast.
This gawping lump is shit. Get rid.
“…he shows the usual respect for the country he was born in and that would include joining in with the singing of the national anthem with your team-mates and not referring to a person not of your birth country “my president”.”
Firstly, Gundagon said “my president” not Ozil.
Secondly, he did sing the NA other times except this tourney where he had already been decimated and called names by DFB. His heart went.
No wonder Germany did poorly. A lot was going on in that dressing room. SMH.
hackney
If you don’t care about what happens to players and management staff in the club you claim to support on the forum of said club then what do you care about? Given that it directly affects the success or not of said club?
And why do you suddenly care about Iwobi?
Mystic
Ummm…Iwobi is rubbish. Ergo, I don’t care.
What exactly has Ozil done for Arsenal except for look pretty good on stats?
Why should anyone care about a CEO? Seriously. Gazidis has done nothing for the best part of a decade and overseen the complete take over of Arsenal, by Wenger. Okay, the last few months have moved in the right direction but so what? We haven’t actually won anything yet.
If Gazidis left today, Arsenal would survive and replace him by lunchtime.
In terms of Ozil’s racism claim, I can’t disagree with him. The problems that he talks about were there before he joined the team. I remember there being quite a bit of push back from (probably a minority) of Germans when Ozil, Khedira, Boateng etc, first came in to the team. Maybe things are different in Europe, but not sure why the FA has any right to come out and talk about a players politics. In this case, it was potentially less than that too. It was potentially just a photo. Dont people in Europe have freedom of speech? Can… Read more »
I don’t even know how to reply to you after that. Best leave you with your feelings
Mystic
You addressed me first. Let’s stay out of each others comments.
Comparing ozil with kdb, hazard and erikson is not right since they were coached by pep, conte and poch last season. These 3 are good coaches compared to express-urself-i-dont-do-coaching-wanker. The whole arsenal team were shit last season btw.
I would give him 1 more season with emery.
regarding the ozil debate. personally I like him, I think he’s a top talent. the one person I want to sell is welbeck. don’t see what he brings to the team. flog him for 20 25 m
One thing has to be remembered about football and fans.
Many opinions are clouded by passion,personal preferences of style,what irritates or entertains.
Its never going to be an exact science and we all love it that way.
Unfortunately it gets into murky water when politics are merged with it.
Ozil meeting erdogan is theoretically the same as players shaking hands with Putin.
Where do you draw the line.?
When footballers are politicised, hypocrisy is immediately triggered.
Ozils performances on the pitch should be the only scrutiny…..and that debate can rage forever it seems.
I think a lot of fans will be pleasantly surprised when Arsenal trot out this season, may not happen straight away but a team that will have a proper coach at the helm will be a very different proposition from the predictable stagnant stuff on show over last 10 years or so.
Ozil just might return to his best of 3 seasons ago..
“(I hate people richer than me) Pierre”
lol priceless one…
“1. Ozil: who gives a fuck?
2. Gazidis: see no.1. ”
Spot on, GoH.
Utarse to see that you would need to see an angry Ozil not sulking one.
What a karius!! Lol
Yeah I can’t wait for this new phoenix-arsenal to rise from the ashes of the shit-fest Wenger left us with.
I believe in emery so far with his attitude and transfers. I don’t predict the toothless tippy-tappy and lack of fight I suffered watching under the hollow-man fraud.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11445984/petr-cech-backed-as-arsenals-first-choice-goalkeeper-by-david-seaman
He may be a club legend… but he’s fucking kidding, right ??
Iwobi scored a goal that qualified Nigeria over powers like Zambia. I’m sold.
Ozil’s spate is with the Germans not with Arsenal.
Regarding him retiring from international football strictly on the playing front and forgetting the spate away from that he was very likely to be discarded by the Germans anyway. They are going to purge the team and Ozil is no spring chicken now being 30 yo in a couple of months.
Robert Pires was much livelier on the ball than Mesut Ozil. Overall a livelier player.
Samesong,
If Ozil is not motivated now to sink the detractors then he never will be and the haters will be proved right. I too have been an Ozil critic over last 2 seasons but for now I will put that down to the creche society that wenger encouraged and hope I see a new reinvigorated Ozil.
When Ozil is the topic certain otherwise reasonable posters here tend to lose their sense of reasoning
Ozil can’t/won’t press, and according to his biggest fanboy Pierre, doesn’t do well against a high press. So guess he can’t play modern football against good opposition…
That said, Ozil could prove useful in ensuring we secure three points against opposition like Huddersfield, Bournemouth, even Everton at home I suppose, and advancing past the likes of CSKA Moscow in the Europa campaign. But against the big boys and in the semis beyond of EL, forget about it
There’s a new push by liberals in Australia. Parents should ask their babies for consent before changing diapers….lol.. you can’t make this shit up!
Liberalism is a disease, I tell you. A mental disorder.
https://youtu.be/D_hIjASYLe4
Sanmi give it a rest ffs, The blog is for football not politics.
The reason I come to this blog is to immerse myself with other Arsenal fans which I otherwise don’t get to do living in Australia. It is my way of interacting with the Arsenal community. Even if I don’t post much, I love reading what everyone has to say and also the debates that stem from that. I would like to apologise to receding hairline, victorious, UG to an extent (haha I still think you’re a twat, and that feeling is reciprocated I know) Pierre and whoever else I have let some feelings of mine be known to. Pierre, I… Read more »
Wenker-wanger
“One thing has to be remembered about football and fans.
Many opinions are clouded by passion,personal preferences of style,what irritates or entertains.
Its never going to be an exact science and we all love it that way”
Well said mate
UP***
Also Australian politics is a fucking joke.
Victorious
How can I give it a rest? When folks are confusing genders and asking babies for consent.
Sanmi,
That shit is better than some of the sitcoms on TV. Thanks for the laughs
RR
are you serious? Anything more hilarious than this?
Goobergooner
That got me all touchy mate, are you by any chance a writer?
poet?
no hard feelings here also,
I agree with you regarding the new season, it does really feels refreshing and exciting if not for anything but for how unpredictable we might me
Emery has alot to prove to himself, the fans,former employers and his detractors,he knows this might be his last chance saloon at a big club and to show how smart he is hopefully that alone should motivate and push him for success,lets hope he get the players he needs and start without a bang.
*with
As has been said, Ozil has deserved criticism for the way he has played for Arsenal in the last couple of seasons and for his less than sparkling play at the World Cup. However, I think for differing reasons, he’s become the ‘boo boy’ for both teams. At Arsenal, like most clubs, we have a fan base that includes a section that appears to thrive on digging out certain players disproportionately more than any positive criticism that they might offer. It then results in this droning over criticism, particularly on line. I am quite sure that at the start of… Read more »
Sanmi You tend to be more interested in politics than football,there are suitable blogs for such and this vendetta you seems to have towards liberals is equally worrisome now you posting a joke footage if it’s wrong to ask kid for dippers change shows you really don’t know much about liberalism Liberal perspective on world politics is that they believe in minimal state intervention in peoples life’s they believe that this is the fundamental as it does not pose the risk of infringing on people human rights or interfere with the free market. Liberals argue about the preservation of individual… Read more »
President Uli Hoeneß about Mesut Özil: “He has been playing shit for years. He won his last tackle before the world cup 2014. All he is doing on the field is: playing cross passes.“
President Uli Hoeneß about Mesut Özil: “He has been playing shit for years. He won his last tackle before the world cup 2014. All he is doing on the field is: playing cross passes.“
The day I take opinions from folks like this about players and football is the day I drop interest in the sport entirely.