As you know, I’ve been quite interested in Unai Emery’s attack on some of the entitlement that goes on at Arsenal. We all knew there were a few areas he was going to have address this season. Ramsey’s lack of discipline, Xhaka’s ineptitude, the overall lack of giving a fuck at Arsenal… then there was Mesut.
A sublime talent that no one in Europe would take a punt on last season, even when he was in the last year of his deal. A player who takes sick days like he’s being bullied at school. A player who floats in and out of relevance. A player who divided fan opinion at a club that was desperate for a megastar.
Yet we still gave him the mother of all contracts to avoid losing him for nothing last summer.
Whether that was CEO ego, or football strategy, one thing is for sure… right now, the deal doesn’t look like good value for money.
The big question I have sits around his power in the dressing room.
How big a personality is a bonified member of the Bling Bling Gang when it comes to the Arsenal dressing room?
I ask, because Emery really is biting off a lot of meat this season. He’s gunning for anyone who can’t work out his system, and he’s taking no prisoners. He’s imposing himself in the club at a rapid pace in order to make sure there can be no excuses for failure this season. The big question is how will the rest of the squad react?
Has Emery hedged his bets that most of the squad find his salary repugnant? Does he gather that most of the boys think he’s a bit of a passenger? Is he guessing that this sort of equality of expectations is going to stand him on good footing?
I hope so. The simple fact of football management is there is a hierarchy. There is no such thing as equality in sport. The way your position is defined in football is usually through talent. You can have a big personality, but if you’re shite, no one is going to pay attention to you. So that begs the question, how much sway does Mesut have with a dressing room that must know he’s a vital part of them getting back in the Champions League this summer? An achievement inextricably linked to their bonuses?
Mourinho is a big fan of rolling into a club and dominating a favourite. He did it to Juan Mata at Chelsea, Rooney at United, Cassilas at Madrid and a little bit of Joe Cole when he was at Chelsea the other time. He goes in, swings his dick, shows the rest of the players unequivocally who is the boss. It works when you’re Jose, because the reality is, he IS the biggest persona in the dressing room and that’s the way he rolls. Not just that, he has the titles to back his credentials.
Emery is a different breed of manager. He tried similar things at PSG in his first year, working his hardest to control big names like Neymar, and it failed. He tanked the one-horse race, then spent the second season being a bitch to the big names. He even said as much in his GFFN interview where he spoke about just letting genius be genius.
Tell that line to Guardiola who will laugh at you.
So here’s the thing, it sounds like Emery is going to war with Mesut Ozil. If he wants to make this work, he has to pray to the footballing gods the football backs up playing hardball with the number one chance creator, space maker, shadow defender the world has ever seen. Because if it goes wrong, it will impact the managers judgement.
Arsenal players knew they couldn’t oust Wenger, so working on a go-slow was never an option, but these players know there’s little connection between Emery, the fans and the board. If they want to end the manager, they can do that now.
It’s also a tough spot to be in. How much of a protest can you make with a player who costs you £1.5m a month? That sort of carryon can only go on so long, because it’ll piss off sponsors and it’ll embarrass the CEO and the new backroom team. Targetting Ozil is absolutely the correct thing to do, but it’s also the most politically charged when you think about it.
Most fans will respond like the players. I’m happy to see the manager throw his weight about, but really, the hope for me is that he inspires people like Mesut to play for him. Reality is the German was NEVER going to be able to track Jorginho, because he’s just not built that way. We’re going to have to find a role for him that he can thrive in, and one that comes with less defensive duties. It’s a chance for Emery to get creative.
Ivan Gazidis and Raul made a cataclysmic mistake spending £350k a week on a player we all knew had commitment issues… but now it’s done and we have to make the most out of it. Motivating a player who doesn’t give a fuck about Arsenal is Emery’s biggest challenge. Making him fall back in love with a game that rejected him so brutally over the last year could cement his legend early on and it’ll go a long way to helping us crack the top 4.
Let’s see where this lands…
See you in the comment, and we’ll be back tomorrow with a podcast. x
1st
2nd
tr4phy
3rd
4th
Aaarrggghhhhh…!!! Missed 4th because of stupid Duplicate comment error.
Ozil out.
(europa league)
Number 2
1st
1st in you dreams.
*your
And The Sun report that Emery specifically told Ozil he would be playing a different position against West Ham, with the German ‘pulling a sickie’ shortly after the chat. Despite feeling ill, he was well enough to report to the Emirates on Saturday and spent time with the players in the changing room. When asked if he had intended to play Ozil in a new position, Emery smiled and simply said ‘maybe’, with some suggestions that Ozil reacted badly to being told he would not be lining up in the No.10 role.
Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2018/08/27/mesut-ozil-pulled-a-sickie-after-unai-emery-revealed-he-would-be-playing-a-new-position-7885236/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
The easy solution is stick ozil in.the hole between midfield and attack, tell him to conserve his energy and find space for when we have the ball ,tell him not to worry about tracking back and tell him that as long he makes bundles of assists /chances then nothing will change……… Similar to what barca do with Messi(and no I am not comparing ozil with Messi)
If not then sell him as he will always be a weak link in a high press team and to be effective at the high press there must be no weak links.
Pedro Great post. Why didnt you explore the options for getting rid of him? Sure we will need to lower his price, but im sure getting rid must be an easier option than trying to make someone with his attutude fit Emerys system. It would also get rid of the feeling no doubt that the other players have that hes overpaid and doesnt contribute. Added bonus his wages isnt in everyones face come contract renewal time. For me tolerate him for now try to get the best out of him and sell next Summer. How long does he have on… Read more »
Oh its there 🙂
Samsung
With all respect,it is impossible to know the reason why he didn’t play…the newspapers have as much idea as you and I……no idea.
Nobody would buy Ozil.
Or rather, there’s probably quite a few teams that would be interested in signing him for £10-15m, but they’d only be prepared to pay him £100-150k a week. He is never going to accept that, hence why nobody came in for him last year.
Keeping him was a mistake and I hope he’s on Statutory Sick Pay when he’s “sick”.
Ozil almost broke the league assists record a few seasons ago. Let’s get that player firing again.
Personally,I wouldn’t want to see him go but I’m sure clubs would pay his wages if they bought him on the cheap…
the problem is that If he really has got health problems then he will be no use to anyone.
We all have to pull together to make Mesut happy and fall in love with playing football again. CEO, manager, physios and – most importantly – the fans!
The football world has been brutal with him the last few years and he needs all our affection. So pls stop being dicks to him in the bowl and on social media and give the poor guy some moral support..
Chop when
moral support for an Arsenal player on le grove…Good luck with that
There’s more chance of that lot down the road getting moral support for their manager and players in Le Grove…..seriously
Chop suey
pedro
See you in the comment, and we’ll be back tomorrow with a podcast. x
lies, you never see me in the comments…
Biggles Hes probably a 40mill player when hes on song. Say we sell him for 10mill so the fans see we got something for him. Buying club pays him 250k we pay 100k pw. Over 3 yrs. Basically wed be 5mill down per season for 3 yrs. Given the dross we have in wages if we tighten up in other areas we could carry that. Something like that and were rid of him or were talking about his lack of effort for the next 3 years and it will get worse as he ages. He has no international career won… Read more »
Emery will not see out his contract. This much is clear.
Arsenal are a broken down club.
We all have to pull together to make Mesut happy and fall in love with playing football again. CEO, manager, physios and – most importantly – the fans!The football world has been brutal with him the last few years and he needs all our affection. So pls stop being dicks to him in the bowl and on social media and give the poor guy some moral support..
should I also give him my monthly salary ? poor sod, have to play football for a living. omg, the agony…
Chop Suey
All we ask as fans is that the players put a shift in abd represent the shirt? Mesut has the stats but has he done that? Clearly not.
Until then he can kiss my arse for sympathy. A lot of what he is suffering now is of his own making. So maybe you understand why im not gonna rock him to sleep and sing him a lullaby every night.
Football world has been brutal with Ozil. Jesus Hitler Christ. Ozil is just a big baby. Played like shit, got rightly canned for it in Germany, spat his dummy out and ended his national career at his supposed prime age. The whole Erdogan situation just happened to occur at an opportune time. I mean, sure. there is no obligation to play for the national team. Playing for the club which pays you obscene amounts of money is a whole different matter. Fucker thinks he is Neymar and will do a PSG Neymar on Emery. Fuck him, terminate his contract, go… Read more »
@GoH : apart the usual destruction of our moral, what’s your program today ?
GOH
Probably a walk in the country in his Barbour.?
And a rant at the Sheep in his own version of broken cockney.?
The sheep love it and they can’t answer back.?
Bah Bah Bah.
Guns I think the fans will give him a chance any sane person understands the position hes in its gonna take him a good 2 seasons to get in the players he needs to play his system. I would expect the majority here now would not be here or be bench warmers thats changing almost a full team. As long as we dont get any worse in terms of position and show improvements in our play fans are likely to stay on board whether the hierarchy will see it that way i dont know. I think to be in the… Read more »
…and Arsenal, after being duped into the Ozil contract are about to do the same thing again with the woeful Ramsay.
Frankly, Arsenal are getting what they deserve for the years of neglect at the highest level.
Wenger dragged the club down and the board happily watched it happen. He rewarded his boys with monster contracts and bred apathy within the squad and fanbase.
But, the real villains…are the docile fans who sat back and watched.
“Reality is the German was NEVER going to be able to track Jorginho, because he’s just not built that way.”
That hits the nail on the head dead centre.
Kind of like asking Mustafi to be a great defender, Welbeck to score goals like Augero, Aubameyang to play like Henry or Lacazette to run as fast as Auba.
Its not going to happen, so Emery will just have to work with the talent he got and not just stick to a rigid plan.
Re Ozil, I was just being sarcastic..
The prick should be hounded out, I hope Emery goes medieval on his ass.
And yeah chances are very few of current players and manager will still be at the club two years from now.. Broken club, Wenger’s legacy
I was rooting for him at the beginning of the season not withstanding my reservations on his attitude and effort. A fit and firing Ozil helps Arsenal, which is all I care about. However, if he did pull a sickie after being told of the manager’s new plans, I say sell him asap or condemn him to the bench till Europa. We can’t be held hostage again by the same player, after the fiasco with his contract renegotiation.
2301
As Peter said, the fans and players have no connection with Emery. This will be his downfall.
It’s not his fault but he will be a victim of Arsenal’s utter contempt for its fans and common sense.
The easy solution would have never been to re-sign Ozil. That one lies completely with the CEO, Pedro’s buddy. Why hasn’t he moved on to AC Milan already, he’s done enough damage at AFC.
Chop suey
Nice one
And there was I thinking you was one of the intelligent ones on here …..wrong
I think I have had enough of weak minded players who turn out half arsed efforts. This is a result business and they are paid a lot of money for a very good reason. Sure, it is hard to expect accountability from players bred in the environment where it was like a curse word.
Fucking snowflakes. Fans turned on me, boohoo, cry me a fucking river. One would think that with his international career done, Ozil would at least have the spine to show DFB what they are missing.
Pierre mate, maybe put things into perspective for a change:
Many of us are doing demanding jobs for a living wage and I don’t imagine my boss will take it upon himself to ‘make me fall in love again with my work’ should I start to produce absolute garbage day in day out.
Everything about Ozil’s character and attitude reeks to high heaven and many people have trouble to relate to him on a human level, let alone show any sympathy for his ‘performance’ on the pitch as of late..
Pierre August 27, 2018 09:42:56 Personally,I wouldn’t want to see him go but I’m sure clubs would pay his wages if they bought him on the cheap… ———————————————————————————- Why are you sure of that? He was able to sign a pre-contract agreement with any club he wanted before he signed the extension, so he could have been had for nothing. And yet nobody else came along to offer the megabucks. So it doesn’t stand to reason that they would now pay a transfer fee that they never had to in the beginning AND pay him the ridiculous wages. Of course… Read more »
Chop-Suey
I think more often than not, creative staff are like that.
The employer will have to be smart about wringing the best out of human resource.
You don’t go into Silicon Valley and bring Japanese work culture with you.
“Guys, you all need to put long hours in the office since you are highly paid, no working from home…..”
Must agree with Hackney the club has been put back 10 years by the very people he talks about.
Emery Goes To Hollywood and says : Relax!
Black Hei,
But then again, he is not a IT nerd, he is an athlete. All he needs to do is to run around a bit and kick the ball. Not exactly rocket science, all he needs to do is stop sulking and apply his talent.
Can I not apply my own policies whilst running my own business? Of course I can. If an employee does not like it, he has no reason to be there.
Chop suey.. I spent my life watching Arsenal being a sucker for the skilful ,sublime player …starting with George Eastham. The Stewart Robson,brian talbot,John Jenson ‘s of this world never really did it for me though Peter Storey will always have a place in my heart after his 2 goals v stoke up at Hillsborough in the semi …..plus he used to kick anything that moved. Running around on a football pitch like a headless chicken does not mean you love your job on the pitch more than someone who plays with his brain and oozes class.. Of course ,that… Read more »
Guns
I see what youre saying. Emery isnt the best in the world but hes about our level right now hes replaceable if were not showing our true potential quite a novel idea.
Biggles
You have no evidence that no other club came in for him so it’s pointless going down that road .
He could have signed because he enjoyed playing for wenger ..simple as that…and the money helped of course
Not too sure what is so classy about Ozil’s play in about the last year or so. Sure, he does have the occasional glimpse. So did Walcott.
Pedro It’s certainly become the number one issue at arsenal. This story will run and run. In terms of his worth as a footballer I think you over estimate him. He most certainly is not:: ‘ the number one chance creator, space maker, shadow defender the world has ever seen’. Ozil’s a luxury. He’s like the final dessert course on a three star Michelin taster menu. The problem is that arsenal are a bit cod ‘n’ chips at the moment. Ozil is not the player who can push this current team to the next level. . He’s the player you… Read more »
JW
Arsenal are further than 10 years behind.
I say it every post: without hundreds of millions invested , this club is going nowhere. We are not producing any academy talent, so that’s a cheap resource for players out of the question. The current squad is weak.
You only have to look at what it takes to build a title winning side. Aside from the freak show that was Leicester, it takes hundreds of millions to have a team capable of winning the league/CL.
Emery was given £50m. This guy is on a hiding to nothing.
‘dressing room ‘ of course
2301
I think it was clear when Emery was hired he must have basically gave the board what they needed to hear…he’s not a boat rocker. He came from the humiliation at PSG and got £6m from Arsenal.
Make no mistake, Emery would have said anything to get the Arsenal gig.
Suga3
This time last year , until after Christmas,ozil was creating chances for fun …the most in Europe ..
Whatever the problems he is having now ,began about February.
No one said this is about ‘running’
But I guess when you put your signature on a multi-million contract there is an implicit clause in there that you are ‘motivated’ to perform tasks that you’re paid handsomely for.
That’s the ridiculous part: that an adult that entered a contract which makes him earn more than 99.999% of the earth’s population needs to have his feelings protected and encouraged to ‘fall in love’ with his work.
Ridiculous if put into perspective…
The one thing we actually have at the moment — aside from Torreira, whom I already quite like — is two quality strikers. Neither is world class, but both are very good and complement one another, if played together. Therefore we should be playing in one of two systems: 4-4-2 or 3-5-2. Emery (and Le Grove) should be thinking about how we can use the January window to acquire the appropriate personnel for such a set-up. At the moment, all of our players are more or less expendable, IMO, except for: Aubameyang Lacazette Torreira Monreal Lichtsteiner Cech There are genuine… Read more »
GoH. I totally agree. Whilst Arsenal has gained market value, it could and should have been done better, given the outlay. We actually spent a shit ton of money during Wenger’s last 10 years. Granted, we had no money for transfers due to the Highbury Square fiasco, but we were paying silly money to players worth about a third of it. This was due to the need to invest a proportion of profits into the squad under the stadium loan agreement. We have squandered the decade where we had the advantage of the new stadium. With the right investments in… Read more »
If he goes ,he goes …. Life goes on..
Mhkitaryan will step into his shoes ,no problem .
If Dick’s not careful this Ozil mess could turn into our very own Winston Bogarde situation.
Ozil is a total waste of space.
A bloke who don’t give a flying fuck as he knows he’s laughing fo the next 4 years..
What gets me is the mug fans who sing the cunts name….
Arsenal fans who attend games now are the weirdest bunch ever, almost cult like..
A day at the spacebowl is about as enjoyable as constipation…..
Only saving grace is that it looks like the vermin are about to do the exact same
Suga
Dein was important but let’s not forget he took the money and ran. His absence had a bigger impact on Wenger than arsenal per se…he was Wenger’s bodyguard.
I just think it’s sad that Arsenal have allowed this to happen.
Arsenal are totally irrelevant now.
Chop suey
” needs to have his feelings protected and encouraged to ‘fall in love’ with his work.Ridiculous if put into perspective…
What’s all this “fall in love” bollocks…..who are you quoting..
4 days left to got rid of Ozil? If so then lets make it happen.
Pierre
Miki can’t fit into normal shoes because he’s so fat. He has to have reinforced football boots to support his near 400lb weight.
And the best thing is that they had simply dismantled the team which with the right additions had the potential to wipe the floor with virtually any team on their day after the 07/08 season. Fuck me, they were good to watch.
And for what? For a lousy few grand for Flamini and dithering over buying Nasri to rotate with Hleb. Then we proceeded to spend millions of kids as if the people were about to stop breeding.
It’s in today blog pal.
‘Making him fall back in love with a game that rejected him so brutally over the last year could cement his legend early on and it’ll go a long way to helping us crack the top 4.’
Probably tongue in cheek from Pedro but you never know..
“Then we proceeded to spend millions of kids as if the people were about to stop breeding“
Good one.
Losing Ashley Cole for £5,000 was a good move too I thought.
The £40m and £1 for Suarez.
Passing on Hazard for Predator.
Giroud as our main frontman.
Arsenal are the best type of comedy.
GoH,
Dein knew each and every single player, including the academy players by their first names. Do you think Sir Chips does?
He was ousted, he had no seat on board and thus no influence over his investment. Also, with not enough muscle to arm wrestle SK. Not really about the money, he’d have waited until now to get double.
Pierre.
Peter Simpson never capped but ;
Inter city cup winner and part of the 70/71 double side.
Oh to have a player like him again.
Guns
We should start a crowd funding appeal to buy fat Mikki some new shoes…
Loads on here would donate
Pgb
His shoes are made from adamantium and cost a billion a pair.
“We’re going to have to find a role for him that he can thrive in, and one that comes with less defensive duties. It’s a chance for Emery to get creative.”
Hell NO
That’s how managers fail
He backs off now and he loses the team.
If Ozil is our way back to the CL then we are fucked becaus anyteam or manager that depends on Ozil will fail.
That top four position is so vital.
But not with this SQUAD.
With regards the list of players not expendable posted above by Bamford, i will like to point out again that Emery starting Cech ahead of Leno does not prove that Cech is better than Leno. You talk about losing the dressing room, Emery is already fighting multiple battles with work rate and hooking non performing players, dropping the most experienced player in the squad with regards to the premier league for no other reason than because you bough someone else is a decision he does not need to make yet, he needs a reason to drop Cech. So this Leno… Read more »
JAMES WOOD
—————–
Correct that Simpson never played for England but he was in the squad that went to Mexico ’70 even though he never played.
Makes for pretty miserable reading on here today: Blaming the board, previous manager, individual player, supporters for the ‘depths of despair’ we find ourselves in. We all know to compete again will take time but sometimes reading this blog would suggest we’re doomed to insignificance for eternity. This Adidas deal that seems likely to happen should be just one indicator that we are not in such a terrible position. Our fanbase is worldwide, we still do have the basis of a decent squad (which needs sorting out obviously and we’re London’s premier club(f**k Spurs and Chelsea). Come on you Reds!… Read more »
By the way Courtouis has not started at Madrid yet, and for a club who have been in a market for a goal keeper for like four transfer windows now i guess that means Courtouis is rubbish will soon be replaced
RH, agree totally with your comment on Leno. With all the changes, sorting out combinations, challenging of the players to commit to his ways, Leno can surely wait. To judge him negatively before he’s started a meaningful match is a complete joke.
Ozil Xhaka bellerin OUT
OXBO
Sounds like an STD.
Loool
JAMES WOOD
Peter Simpson ,quality defender ,loved him …..Bobby Moore was the main reason he didn’t play for England ,then I think Norman Hunter came along .
Ozil’s missing work was known at Madrid before he came to us.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2415392/Mesut-Ozil-chased-ex-Miss-Venezuela-Aida-Yespica-offloaded-Real-Madrid.html
Chop suey
Why quote pedro….his views hold as much substance as fireman j.oe ..you must remember him ..don’t you…..
“This time last year , until after Christmas,ozil was creating chances for fun …the most in Europe .
Whatever the problems he is having now ,began about February”
Clueless Pierre
Whatever happened to Pzil,in February?
We all know he signed his mega wage deal on January 31st.
Thanks for connecting the dots.
PIERRE.
Yes it was Bobby Moore who kept him out
plus a bad injury he got.
Actually during the 60s and 70s we had hardly any players in the England teams. George Eastham played but was only in the squad for the ’66 WC. I think Radford, Charlie George and Rimmer played once. Peter Storey and Alan Ball played a bit but thats it.
“He has to have reinforced football boots to support his near 400lb weight.”
lol it’s harsh.
My mistake – Charlie did play for England once but as a Derby player!
Bob
I’ve no idea when you started going fella and I truly support you if you can stomach that place every week I truly do.
But my point is place is like a fucking morgue and then they sing the name of the biggest fraud we’ve ever had
PedroPhile MBGA you wuss
Receding
Spot on about Leno/Cech. How anyone can claim Cech is indispensable is beyond a joke. Especially to then try and rationalise hmthat with ABC logic from Leno not yet featuring.
Good post Pedro. Seems clear that Ozil is the ultimate luxury player. However Emery’s style does not accommodate anyone who cannot pull their weight. It is high action, high press. The only way that Ozil stays is by pulling his weight. But of course that isn’t going to happen. I cannot see Ozil changing and I cannot see Emery changing is apporoach to accommodate one player. Personally, I sense the only way forward is to sell him in the next three days or send him on loan. If it means paying part of his wages to lubricate the deal, I… Read more »
The answer for the best position for ozil in current Arsenal is both simple and painfull.
There is no question in my mind that he should start as nr. 9
Search for throughballs and bag them in.
Slip into the pockets from the defenders blind spots and give deft onetouch passes to unlock busses.
Oh and of course sit out the defence part mostly 😀
Being a proud striker would suit him much better than being an anonymous playmaker
Theo is off his Wenger (and Alladyce) shackles.
The lad can’t stop scoring while Auba can’t bury sitters.
The only way we get rid of Ozil is if we let other clubs approach him like he’s a free and subsidise his wages at his next club. He’ll cost us between 100k a week and 350k a week for the next three years any way you cut it. His contract renewal was truly one of the club’s worst moves. “Put him behind the striker(s) and tell him he doesn’t need to defend, ever.” Great plan. Now we have Ozil, Auba, and Laca (along with Mikki) who can’t, won’t or don’t have to defend. What’s left of our midfield will… Read more »
It pains me to say this, but Arsenal are the laughing stock of the PL. Sanchez, Ramsay, Chambers, Xhaka – I could go on and on. But let’s stick to Ozil.
Buying him was a matter of Wenger ego: he’d lost Suarez because of a stupid £40 mill +1 offer. Paying the guy £300,000+ per week is crazy. It makes him unsaleable. He should have been given away in the summer. A Turkish club might have taken him.
Dissenter,
Do you think Walcott will finish on more goals than Auba come the end of the season?
“Arsenal are the laughing stock of the PL”
Nothing new. It’s been 10 years now.
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