via @arsenal
So, part III of the press release dropped from Mesut and he dropped the QUIT bomb on the German national team.
It’s very sad. His PR team has done an excellent job in conflating two issues for me. Firstly, racism from the right wing, which is particularly grim when the attacks come from a country most Europeans hold on a pedestal for their welcoming attitude and strong stance on integration. Secondly, posting a photo with a despotic leader.
There’s been some great writing on this topic. Rapha H made the point that sports stars who have bravely spoken out against Turkish rule have faced ramifications with their families. Turkish basketball player Enes Kanter said Erdogan is ‘the Hitler of our times.’ Turkey lobbied America to extradite him to face a 4-year prison sentence. Not only that, they also targeted his dad with an arrest warrant. Hakan Sukur is a man in exile in California in a slightly darker story where he was aligned to Gulenists who were blamed for a coup against Erdogan. When he didn’t renounce his allegiance, he was banished and his father imprisoned.
Maybe Mesut felt he had to take the picture, only he will know that. I guess you make the decision which side of history you want to stand on. He’s made his from a position of influence as a German immigrant (Merkel is his leader), other stars with a more direct link to the country made theirs and paid the price, but will live with the knowledge they stood up for their country. Also worth noting you can respect your ancestry without standing with a vicious tyrant.
Anyway, it’s sad that Ozil was hounded out of his national team. When history looks back on the journalists who sought to divide countries by picking on its immigrants, I hope it is cruel. We’re no better. Raheem Sterling was ravaged in the build-up to the World Cup. It was only the intervention of the fans that stopped a majority of the ill-will. Which is something special in my opinion. There’s a lot of talk it was Southgate that heeled the press wounds, maybe partly, but for me it was the fans utter disgust at the attacks on the team and the players that kept the rabble in check.
That said, caving to the racists sets a precedent. That’s a victory for online hounding. A real shame for the German immigrants coming through that needed a bit of leadership. Hopefully, the whole thing shames the German FA into taking necessary measures to protect players… then we’ll see the return of Mesut. I guess that’s dependent on how forgiving the German fan is feeling with regards to a photo that shits on their values.
Another hot button topic whilst I’m here. Karius is having a preseason disaster. His confidence is shot to pieces. I was a goalkeeper. A shit one. If you drop a howler, your mates are all disgusted, you’re nervous, every ball that comes near you is like a grenade. You have to work through it and build your confidence. It’s hard at Sunday league level. Harder as a pro. But that’s what you’re paid to do. You are where you are because of your mental resilience.
For all the amateur head doctors out there, stop saying he’s suffering mental illness. Stop saying he needs to go to rehab. Stop saying he should be dropped. You don’t know him, his state of mind, or what he’s going through. He’s in the top 0.0001% of keepers who made the grade, he’s a fighter, he’s resilient, he’s an athlete, those are all facts. No one at that level wants three months off. He’ll be desperate to find that form. I am all for deeper conversations about depression and anxiety, but I am not for projecting these issues on players who haven’t asked for that treatment. We’re layering a societal taboo on a sports player who is going through a confidence crisis because it feels contemporary to do so. I think that’s unfair without consent.
Finally, some are suggesting Raul S might take over from Ivan G if our CEO ducks out in September. The thought being that maybe he’s the succession plan. I’m not so sure here, Raul’s corp background at Nike was sales, marketing and Barca merch. Not normally where you seek a new CEO. Ivan is a lawyer, lots of CEOs come from finance or product. But we’ll see, I think a lot of City’s backroom guys are exNike. Tom Fox was also exNike, though the Villa project didn’t exactly go to plan.
Right, that’s enough from me today.
See you in the comments.
1st
Bankz
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tr4phy
tr4phy
Tr4phy
Finally I beat DM… . 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Nice one Ashwin!! You were speedy today, will have to be more on my toes from now on.. At least I got my tr4phy 🙂
Damn. Missed it
Fucking hysterical DM – there’s got to be some sort of cheat going on here though.
Guys
Guys!!!!!
GUYS!!!!
THERE’S A FRENCH PLAYER IN THE U19 SQUAD WITH THE NAME DIABY!!!!
WE MUST HAVE HIM!
Hounding a player for a photograph which was taken at a public event is stupid!!!. I mean is your belief so fragile that a photograph can ruin it!!!!
Be it RW or LW, Neither of them dont leave any stone unturned to claim their victim. This time it was Mesut.
DM
I was just lucky 🙂
Ashwin
Your humility should be an example to us all 😀
DM is Pedro… fine don’t believe me
gambon
I may criticise Wenger for outstaying his welcome, and criticise the team when
they play badly, but I am most certainly not a “fair weather” supporter.
I have seen enough poor Arsenal teams and players over the many years that
I have supported the club and yet I continue to watch the club as a season
ticket holder.
Do you do the same?
Marko is Pedro and is playing a veeeery clever game lolz
In regards to the last post, I just think Arsenal fans are quite glass half empty naturally as opposed to half full which isn’t a criticism. Lots still enjoy the good openly, on here too.
Some posters though (the likes of Steve) you can’t convince me he’s an Arsenal fan in any way shape or form.
Add in Red for that matter, he’s an Ospina fan (of all players)
Well played DM
I’d find it much easier to dismiss Ozil as having a whinge if the rest of the senior members of the Germany squad were getting the same level of abuse in the media.
“Some posters though (the likes of Steve) you can’t convince me he’s an Arsenal fan in any way shape or form.”
Why is he not an arsenal fan? Because he voiced out his frustration? Because wanted a failing manager to be shown the door ? Because he criticized Ozil?
He is an arsenal fan, just like you, you simply have differing views on some matters, is that so bad?
@CA –
“we would be hearing about how forgetful everyone is about the quality they both have and how Wilshere is fired up after not going to the World Cup.”
Christ this almost gave me PTSD
Turkey is doing ok with Erdogan
How is Libya now after deposing and killing their ‘despot’?
“Some posters though (the likes of Steve) you can’t convince me he’s an Arsenal fan in any way shape or form.”
Pretty sure he is a Chelsea fan and has said so.. there was a guy on here called Steve ages ago if its the same guy?
Also clearly Pedro’s alter account on here is Peanuts & Monkeys!!
Dont jump to conclusions trying to play the hero Rainman.
I’m not blinkered or easily upset where anybody criticising us makes them less of a fan. There’s certain types of posters, or even blogs filled with people like that.
Most of us have criticisms, our own opinions but AFC isn’t life or death. We can still enjoy the pleasures being a fan can bring.
But theres some who frequent here, you’d b forgiven for thinking they were trolls, if something gives you such displeasure why not just pack it in?
Dont jump to conclusions trying to play the hero Rainman.
Not playing the hero, just dont see the need to be calling anyone out, can’t you just have your fucking say and leave it at that? Its a blog for Christ’s sake, everyone is allowed to have a say.
Turkey is doing ok with Erdogan How is Libya now after deposing and killing their ‘despot’? This. The idea that a foreign country knows what is best for a nation has to be the most absurd thing ever. If the majority of the people in a country support the way they are being governed, then so be it. If they don’t like it, they change the government. But you can’t cry more than the injured. We often spout the values of democracy but we don’t fully accept it when the majority has its way because we feel our minority opinion… Read more »
Best blog article on this so far, with one small but significant error. Mezut is not an immigrant. He’s German born & bred as is his father. Turkish on his mums side (so he says).
“But you can’t cry more than the injured.”
Spot on!!!
At least 2018 is the summer of Erdogan instead of the summer of ‘what the fuck is Wenger doing’ which has been the soundtrack from 2011 onwards.
The Wenger obsession though…
Must admit Cesc, I dont miss Wenger not in the least. Team looks in order with a manager who wants to make a difference. Fact that Wenger is still without a job, despite his claims that many offers have come his way, is more telling that no one is fooled by him any longer. Season has not even started and I’m more excited with anticipation than the usual who-gives-a attitude knowing that the same old same same was guaranteed.
Dont care how they do, everything is new again.
Any Arsenal news? Kovacic linked today.
Any Arsenal news? Kovacic linked today.
No way. Not going to happen. Knocking off a few million off Nzonzi’s price is way more likely
Frankie It was always laughable when people said he would walk straight into some massive job. Yeah, right. I’m so happy with everything Arsenal right now because of two things that we haven’t had in over a decade. Firstly, everyone has to perform. The manager cannot get away with dressing success up as something else or relying on braindead fans just to back him because ‘class’. Yeah, right. Everyone from manager, to coaches, to players, to Mislintat, to Sanellhi everyone has to perform now. Secondly, with the resources they have the club really is trying to get better and be… Read more »
The Turkish government has seized on the incident as evidence of its long-standing claim that Europe is hypocritical and racist, and never treats Turkey fairly.
“Where’s your tolerance? Your multiculturalism?” tweeted Erdoğan’s spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin.
Abdulhamit Gul, the justice minister, wrote: “I congratulate Mesut Özil who by leaving the national team has scored the most beautiful goal against the virus of fascism.”
The pro-government Star newspaper described Özil’s resignation as “a national slap from Mesut to the neo-Nazis”.
———————————————————–
Looool
Still think that Torreria, N’Zonzi will be a good base to our midfield.
If there is any reality to the Kovacic rumours then Ramsey is gone.
When does Xhaka get back to training? Really interested to see what Emery does with him.
Maybe Ramsey is going and they are trying to get both N’Zonzi and Gomes? That could explain the rumoured haggling that Arsenal are doing trying to get real bargain prices that could be met just by Ramsey’s fee.
I’m sure Ozil will welcome the stupid reaction of the spokesperson for Erdogan.
He should have saved the statement for his memoirs to be released when he is set to retire from football.
Oh wait,…those memoirs have already been released when he was 27 years old.
He should have taken a leaf from Monsieur Wenger who kept all his secrets under wraps in the 22 years he spent at Arsenal.
Really this Ozil statement has become the fodder for all the nastiness in the two countries. I hope it doesn’t go further than this week.
Yes looks pretty certain another midfielder is being brought in, the question is who is going to land. Of the linked named I would prefer N’zonzi.
Can’t believe we’re only a few weeks away from the beginning of the season already.
Mesut Ozil’s resignation is so big that it made the local news channel of my nation, a nation that doesn’t usually give two shits about football. Obviously it painted a “Germany is a horrible nation” type picture.
I guess Ozil is proud, for completely humiliating and dragging his country’s name through the mud. Bet those Germans are rethinking all the awards they’ve laid at this moron’s feet.
Rainman
Jim just gave you the answer to what I was referring to ol boy
Havertz is likely to replace Ozil in the Euros, had a great season for Leverkusen, is only 18 and Brandt plays alongside him.
Meyer really needs to think about that and lower his demands. Germany are going to through a massive change nationally. Khedira, Kross, Muller all the old guard will be under threat from players like Goretzka, Havertz, Weigl, Meyer, Brandt, Sane etc.
England U19s getting ripped open
Losing 4 0
Diaby playing well.
Alioui hattrick
We shall watch this lad and see if he is worth a future punt.
Countryboy
Very valid points and I would apply the same to Putin.
I’m certainly no Erdogan fan but it appears as if the majority of Turks are happy or at least quiescent with him in charge.
It’s also worth pointing out that despite the lofty protestations and judgements, our governments are happy to do business with him.
Turkey is still a member of NATO and the EU were happy to make a deal with him preventing the continuation of the immigration crisis of a couple of years ago.
http://www.espn.com/soccer/germany/story/3572096/mesut-ozil-hasnt-added-anything-to-germany-for-years-bayern-chief-hoeness
Ziiing.
Can’t help but agree.
Brandt was criminally underused at the world cup. Add to that the omission of Sane and you can, quite rightly, question Lowe’s mental health.
Lowe ze loopy one
Radio Raheem
Strong argument that Lowe should have lost his job, Sane on one side and Brandt on the other would have added a lot to Germany’s attack.
The whole team stinks to be honest, the attitude of the players suggested something was wrong there.
Probably could have done with a new manager to bring through the new team whilst also sweeping out Ozil, Khedira, Muller etc.
Your Comment Here
Hoeness is another one losing his marbles. He has quite clearly confused Germany with Arsenal.
Seriously what’s going on in Germany?
I put money on Germany so was quite naturally watched their matches at the world cup. By far their worst player for me was Muller. Completely useless. Özil has done him a massive favour with this press release.
Arsenal are right to try and get N’Zonzi for less than his £35 Million release clause. Hopefully we can bring him in though, would be a great summer with us finally addressing our midfield issues that have run for years.
Another, possibly our best, of our choices for our dream winger just got his transfer to another team. Roma have reached an agreement with Bordeaux to sign Malcom Roma have offered £31.3m for the Brazilian forward, who scored 12 goals in 38 appearances last season. 31m for a player who improves us right from the get go and has the profile of the player we desperately need. Another doubt casts shade over the new admins’ competency. We sell Welbeck for 20m-25m and get Malcom for 31m. It’s that simple. Roma banging their bucks that he could become their new Salah… Read more »
“I’m certainly no Erdogan fan but it appears as if the majority of Turks are happy or at least quiescent with him in charge.” Alexanderhenry and Countryboy Its not as straight forward as that. A few years ago Nigeria had a dictator by the name Gen Sani Abacha who promised a transition to civil rule and all the political parties adopted him as their Candidate, a few civilians organized different rallies to show their support for Gen Abacha, the most prominent of those was the “youths earnestly ask for Abacha”. Most people sang his praise and those who dared to… Read more »
Pedders was a keeper?! Thought for sure was was a handsome number 10, performing 3-5 stationary step-overs before playing a defence-splitting pass.
Cesc Appeal
Agreed. Özil, as poor as he was, was still useful to the side. Kroos dictates play from deep, Özil in the final third. I think some dynamism from the flanks as you suggested would have seen them through.
Despite being below par I still thought they were unlucky in their matches, they missed a lot of chances. It wouldn’t surprise me if they reach the final of the next Euros.
CA
Remember saying we should just get rid of Ramsey and Wilshire and rebuild the midfield?
Well it looks like it might finally be happening. 🙂
2 years too late, mind…
it’s just two weeks to the end of the short silly transfer window the premier league voted for.
Expect Real Madrid to drag their feet then try to unsettle Chelsea with bids after the window, remember English clubs can still sell abroad till August the 30th.
I think this Ozil thing has been discussed to the death, the player is back with his Arsenal team mates training and looks happy enough. Some of the things said about him on this blog is really shameful. Reeks of envy
Azed Nigeria as a country was better off with General Sani Abacha.
What we have not is not a democracy..don’t even kid yourself. It’s a dictatorship by the same old Generals who simply swapped their khaki for civilian wear.
Groovey
Better late than never but our midfield has been truly terrible for years now, what does it do, where’s the balance etc? Just shit.
If we end up with Torreira, Guendouzi and N’Zonzi then Emery and Mislintat are already up in my book before a ball is kicked.
Just need that winger, badly.
Things are looking good though, taking a long view.
It’s a good idea to shut the transfer window as the season starts but will make more sense if it was synchronised across Europe.
France’s window is open till mid September I think.
I find it little weird that you commingle Ozil press release with neologism. So where is the conflux?
See how conveniently you dismissed our own Ozil’s struggles with his nation and ancestry: but stood by Karius, another Garman struggling for footballing relevance and economic survival!
Remember that night, Liverpoolians (English) fans stood by him, acknowledged his show of regrets and never boo hissed him.
You’re furious raptora????
If only someone had made an offer for welbeck. As it stands, they havent. You question the admins competency, but use imaginary player sales in your argument on how we could easily afford him…..
“Quick maths”
“Nigeria as a country was better off with General Sani Abacha”
I disagree.
“It’s a dictatorship by the same old Generals who simply swapped their khaki for civilian wear.”
I somewhat agree, difference is with the civilian wear, they have an expiry date.
Azed I get you brother. It’s just that most Western nations often assume that there is a universal definition of freedom that must be exported over the world. Take the issue of gay marriage, it was reported that Obama refused to sell weapons to Nigeria largely because of the Nigerian government’s negative disposition to the issue. While gay people have been living in Nigeria for a long while, most Nigerians saw the sexual orientation as unafrican. Put to the vote, gay marriage would have been defeated. So instead of Obamas foreign policy objective focusing tolerance for other people’s sexual orientation,… Read more »
“It’s a good idea to shut the transfer window as the season starts but will make more sense if it was synchronized across Europe.”
I actually thought that was what they were trying to do..only to realize it was just England. Ideally the transfer window should close before the season starts, problem is everyone has their own start date.
“Take the issue of gay marriage, it was reported that Obama refused to sell weapons to Nigeria largely because of the Nigerian government’s negative disposition to the issue.”
This is totally false and used by the GEJ government to prop itself. Saudi Arabia doesn’t tolerate homosexuals yet they still get weapons from the US. The Obama government didn’t sell weapons based on human rights violations from the Nigerian Army.
Obama could have looked away and decided to sell but that might have been politically costly for him.
“Azed Nigeria as a country was better off with General Sani Abacha.”
He would have stolen 100 million by now at the rate he was going,
Ivan was Stan’s pick, you-know-who merely gave a yes-man’s nod of approval. And while Stan stays at arms-length when it comes to the mundane issues of football, when it comes to REAL business, he does all the pickin’ and choosin’.
So yes, maybe it will be Josh. and yes, maybe that’s why Ivan has been told to bring in the ‘brains trust’ to help out the poor guy.
If so, I guess it will be because Stan wants it that way, not because Ivan wants to leave .
“This is totally false and used by the GEJ government to prop itself. Saudi Arabia doesn’t tolerate homosexuals yet they still get weapons from the US. The Obama government didn’t sell weapons based on human rights violations from the Nigerian Army.
Obama could have looked away and decided to sell but that might have been politically costly for him ”
Like I said ” It was reported”. But the point still stands, if gay marriage had been put to a vote, it would have lost scandalously. The point is freedom to an American may be madness to an African
“He would have stolen 100 million by now at the rate he was going,”
Dissenter
100M is small money to Abacha. The Swiss government just returned about $321M looted by Abacha and that is just one of the returned ones.
“He would have stolen 100 million by now at the rate he was going,”
That would have been a blessing
2 Billion dollars and counting..that is the amount the NNPC cannot account for via crude revenue .
The Obama government rightfully refused to sell weapons because of civil rights violations. They started selling old American equipment but stopped son after it was apparent that there were many violations.
I saw videos on the internet without much searching of Nigerian soldiers cutting the throats of people and burying them in shallow graves..and I’m pretty sure those people didn’t have the benefit of a trial.
There was also the issue of the massive corruption that was going on in the armament procurement.
Playing devil’s advocate here but would refusing to take a picture with Erdogan not count as a political statement as well….
What evidence of racism is there in the Ozil case? Maybe I’m missing something. Is he just falling back on the race card here? Or are people not allowed to criticise his play simply because he’s Muslim?
For me I’ve never heard one derogatory thing about Ozil in Germany other than he’s lazy. Ilkay Gundogan doesn’t get the bad press because he actually puts in effort on the pitch.
FFS, it’s a football blog
“Playing devil’s advocate here but would refusing to take a picture with Erdogan not count as a political statement as well….”
Interesting one ..
Now let me see Dissenter answer this …
“For me I’ve never heard one derogatory thing about Ozil in Germany other than he’s lazy. Ilkay Gundogan doesn’t get the bad press because he actually puts in effort on the pitch.”
You must have been living under a rock sorry to say
Ozil’s agent: “As Mesut said in his statement, he accepts reasonable and fair criticism of his football, and deals with that as part of the job. However, Mr Hoeness cannot even provide any actual evidence to back up his foolish statements that are clearly exaggerated. In this case, the stats are clear. Twenty-three goals, 40 assists – which is a German record – and five-time German player of the year – three of which come after 2014. He claims that Mesut has been a ‘ghost’ for years, but what ‘ghost’ wins all these awards and has this much success? Mesut… Read more »
You must have been living under a rock sorry to say“
Let’s hear it then?
*waiting*
“Let’s hear it then?”
Area man who has never experienced racism questions if it exists.
Let’s hear it.
Getting criticised is not the same as racism but let’s hear it.
*waiting*
Issuing crazy comments about Mesut’s football, he thinks, it will create a big reaction and will cover the real issue.“
Crying racism to cover up poor play covers the real issue.
I really wish the Nigerians on here would take their internal politics elsewhere. This is a football blog FFS.
But they wont listen , that’s for sure, You wont find a more tone deaf bunch of people on the entire planet. They are the ones in the tube discussing last weekends party at the top of their voices while everyone else is simply trying to get to work.
Work very hard at earning themselves a bad name
Receding Ozil had a right to meet with whomsoever he chooses but he can’t expect that sometimes it won’t come with consequences. Refusing to meet with Erdogan would just have been explained as staying away from politics. His Turkish heritage has nothing to do with Erdogan. Eerdogan isn’t Turkey. There are good proud Turks who belive Edoagn is a crazed dictator…and I just happen to agree with them. Erdogan’s body guards went berserk on Turks who were demonstrating PEACEFULLY across the Turkish embassy in Washington DC last year. The brazenly beat the bejesus out of this people in full view… Read more »
Is Pierre by any chance Ozil’s agent?
“I really wish the Nigerians on here would take their internal politics elsewhere. This is a football blog FFS. But they wont listen , that’s for sure, You wont find a more tone deaf bunch of people on the entire planet. They are the ones in the tube discussing last weekends party at the top of their voices while everyone else is simply trying to get to work. Work very hard at earning themselves a bad name” Maybe you should start your own blog and ban Nigerian commentators. There was a full two days of political discourse here, left this… Read more »
Globalgunner,
“They are the ones in the tube discussing last weekends party at the top of their voices while everyone else is simply trying to get to work”
Just call them thugs or the n word and get it over with. Own your racism.
So what you are saying Dissenter is he would have been lauded for refusing to meet Erdogan..which in turn would be a political statement.
So in summary he made the wrong political statement ..not the one Germany would have liked him to make.
To think he’s called “Globalgunner” 🙂
That must be a very small globe, like the miniature ones that hand from the rear view mirror.
Small mindedness on display.
Some Nigerian talked about a party they attended, maybe they should have talked about the last edition of love island.
Receding
It’s always controversial when sports people inject politics into their trade.
It was controversial and devisive when Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave the black power salute in 1968.
It is still controversial and very divisive when black NFL players decide to kneel for the national anthem
Sometimes just showing up to do our job and steering away from the cameras like Jesse Owen did is what lives forever.
Sports and politics don’t go well together.
He should have politely declined that picture. His Turkish pride wouldn’t have diminished one bit.
Ahead , ahead. chaps. Next up. Which “Owambe” outfit was best Mercy Johnson or Tiwa Savage.?
Like I said…any loud conversation. That’s where you will find them
The real issue regarding Ozil’s affair is racism. It happened throughout the world of football. Hoeness’s personal attack on Ozil is just deflecting the issue. A lot of posters here are going for it and follow his lead.
Let’s turn this page and focus on Arsenal.
Links to Sarr now, I really hope the amount of links to wide players just as with central midfield players means we’re going to land someone in each position.
Rumours are that all the big teams in the EPL are after but we should really be able to sell ourselves to young player who will need play time and a good environment as opposed to United, look at Martial, as opposed to Chelsea, look at their record with youth, as opposed to Liverpool, look at the level of competition.
Azed
“is Pierre by any chance Ozil’s agent?”
Sussed
World politics have no standards or ethics. Foreign policy changes on financial gain or loss these days. Local policy is about self entitlement and power control. Theresa May has been accused of racism and anti Muslims by few Corbyn has been deemed a racist and anti semmetic by others.. USA and trump are happy to sell their heavy armoury to the Saudi and other Arabs while calling them terrorists Today is Iran yesterday was north Korea.. Turkey, strong economy, NATO member, obviously would upset few heads out there. Erdogan elected president has been in government less than Merkel has been… Read more »
Links to Sarr now, I really hope the amount of links to wide players just as with central midfield players means we’re going to land someone in each position
Ismailly? Definitely looking for a winger. Who do we end up with is the question. I’d prefer Thauvin to him if we’re raiding Marseille
The Sarr kid is rated 50 million
Pfffff, that’s way too expensive for mere potential.