Well hello everyone! I’m back in the UK hood and what do we have on the agenda today? Bloody Mesut Ozil, AGAIN.
This time there are two conflicting stories. One is from John Cross who reckons the club are sick to the back teeth of the German superstar and want him gone if they can find an offer. The second is from Sami Mokbel who reckons he’ll be given a chance to work his way back into the team this Christmas, but he’s really in the last chance saloon (The Times also has a story). There are rumours of a loan move out in January.
One thing is clear, the club is briefing against the German. Quite astonishing really. Our highest paid player who isn’t even a year into his new deal, is being nudged out of the club. I think it’s pretty clear now that the mega deal was a typically self-serving action of our now departed exCEO.
Anyway, I find it quite unbelievable that criticism is going the way of Emery. The childlike response from Oziltoligists is a sight to behold.
‘YOU WOULDN’T EXPECT MESSI TO PRESS’
‘YOU PAY OZIL TO BE OZIL’
‘EMERY CAN’T DEAL WITH BIG NAMES’
… a few of the best.
Let’s get one thing straight, Mesut is a supremely gifted player. One of the greats. There’s no doubt that if he applied himself, he’d be very valuable to our current situation. But the reality is, he’s not pulling his weight. He hasn’t been pulling his weight for years. He is a masterful creator, but that’s all he’s good for. In a modern system, it’s very hard to accommodate that type of player, which is why so few clubs adopt a free-roaming #10 these days. It’s not even just the pressing that so many keep highlighting, it’s the fact that he can’t be trusted to show up in big games. He can’t be trusted not to shy away from the tough away days. He’s constantly phoning in sick like some school kid with a fragile immune system. His second half season statistics always tank. He’s not a reliable leader despite being one of the 5 captains.
Arsene Wenger coddled the German. Notable that since his mercurial talent graced the club we’re now a Europa League side. Obviously not all the fault of one player, but when your star man has commitment issues, it does kind of set the tone for the squad.
You can even use Europe as a barometer for how far his star has fallen. He was available for sale for 18 months before he signed a deal for us. Who tried to seduce him? How many clubs dropped a bid the summer before he went into the final year of his deal? How many tried to make a cheeky move in January? Not many, and remember, he was on b-list money for a world class player. Do you think if Ozil were the player so many fans think he was, he’d be in such low demand?
The game has passed him by. He has most of the tools he needs to succeed at Arsenal. A terrier DM, two of the most potent strikers in world football, a really nice pitch, and a fanbase that adores him. Yet he seems to get worse every season. Is it fair to say that Cesc Fabregas played in a far worse squad and delivered way more? I think it is.
Ozil doesn’t want to adapt to the new ways of Emery’s Arsenal and thankfully, he is happy to make the tough decisions Wenger hadn’t for the past ten years. He won’t be making these decisions on a whim either, he’ll be using sophisticated data models that will support whatever hunch he has about the player on the pitch. He’ll no doubt have worked this decision through with Raul and Sven.
This is what ruthless decision making looks like.
Finally, one for Joke Friday… Wenger had this to say for BEin.
“The team is in good hands and I always said that. A lot of people thought when I left the club that the team would need to completely rebuild – I never thought that.”
“I am very happy that these people have been proven wrong.”
THIS IS WHY YOU DIDN’T GET THE UNITED JOB.
Right, that’s me done, see you in the comments.
Marc I’m glad the crowd are coming to their senses. It is so like Wenger this whole Ozil thing. I wouldn’t offer them Ramsey because I still think in January we could get £20-30 Million for him even with his situation. Rather keep him and run him into the ground in pointless Europa League matches and closing out EPL matches. If we could get Fabregas for free or a minimal fee I wouldn’t mind. He’s the best Arsenal player on the ball in recent times along with Cazorla. I would see him as potentially transitioning to coaching staff, what a… Read more »
Cesc
If we can get serious money for Ramsey in Jan then that’s another matter. I also think Cesc likes London and going into coaching at Arsenal might make him feel he’s coming home.
Marc
I also think despite everything the fans would welcome him back like he was indeed returning home.
Fabregas is still my favourite player of the Emirates generation.
Him teaching youngsters how to use the ball, when to move forward, how to calm the team down etc would be great.
Spanish as well which could suit Emery.
Some people set the bar so low for ozil
He’s not a fox in the box poacher who is only needed to contribute a tap in each game to justify his place in the team
He’s playing in the center of the team. One of the game’s most important and influential positions. Yet he had all of two excellent moments in an otherwise entirely average game yesterday at home against relegation fodder and some people think that’s enough
Enough for an Everton maybe. I thought we wanted to compete for higher positions…
I’d take cesc back for his dressing room influence and he adds squad depth.
His best days are passes tho, so I wouldn’t want him in the starting 11 every week long term.
Amazing to have him in and around the club tho
I’ll probably regret saying this but kos mustafi and sok should be enough at CB for the next game
Sok looks really decent, mustafi was on reasonable form recently and kos should be that bit sharper than he was against Southampton
As much as anything, I think it would be an improvement to return to a midfield base of xhaka and torreira.
The Chavs losing 3 points at home is so much more interesting news than all this ridiculous “Manure reborn” hype, they destroyed the mighty Cardiff, amazing performance indeed lol
Ole Gunnar has a better record as manager in the PL than arteta 🙂
And it’s a real performance!!
Think every poster on here would love to see ozil go on a run on a WC level. 7-10 goals. 15 assists.
He is not the new wenger on here. People are just frustrated with him. Show us what you got ozil. Or just leave.
The ball is at your feet Ozil.
“He must have met Pierre at some point. What’s he going to do when Ozil is forced out of the club?”
Exactly the same since Wenger’s firing: Troll at every opportunity
I’m with many posters here and would love Ozil to prove his detractors wrong, but he’s had several chances to do that and failed miserably each time. 2 moments of what’s required of Ozil in yesterday’s game is not proving yourself. Ozil is a lightweight powderpuff too easily dumped on his ass or dispossessed. He has no pace even against lumbering CBs. Start Ozil against Liverpool and tell him that game is made or break for him at Arsenal. We all know what is going to happen that is if Ozil isn’t injured or sick for that game. ES As… Read more »
“He must have met Pierre at some point. What’s he going to do when Ozil is forced out of the club?”
Same as he did when wenger was gloriously sacked on to his ass
Throw a tantrum for the next 6 months( and counting).
Tony D I am not being pompous. Personally I am sick and tired of posters who spend so much time “destroying” almost every player on our books. Ozil has a lot of faults as I have said many times, but he is the only midfielder on the books with creativity, passing skill and ability to unlock a defence. Yesterday he showed those skills on two separate occasions, which resulted in goals by both Aubameyang and Iwobi. As I have said on many occasions find another player who is an upgrade in other departments of game and who can deliver “creativity”… Read more »
Cesc back at Arsenal would be great. He was a kid but was surrounded by the invincibles – so he remembers and he knows what has happened since then. I always felt back in the day when we were under pressure in games, that I wanted the ball with Cesc or TR7- they were safe hands always and rarely gave the ball away We dont have that now. Ozil just gets bumped goes down, hands up and the opposition has the ball. He needs to work on that aspect of his game. Getting stronger physically is important, especially as players… Read more »
E S
Unfortunately I think you set yourself up on here not for your views on Ozil but the importance you placed on watching him live at the ground
Sky have have a Zillion cameras at the match , can show endless replays and slow-mo and close up shots of whatever they like
In other words a different perspective of the same match
ES Sorry but you do always have this lofty way about you where so many time you write, “as I wrote…..” etc. It’s very condescending as were your views that only people at the stadium can see the full spectrum of the game. Ozil really only had 1 special moment with the pass to Kola the ball through to AMN was lucky and a fortunate rebound. As has been posted here often there are numerous young players out there who can offer so much more than Ozil, which is why Ozil is not wanted any longer by the majority on… Read more »
Ozils ball in for the first goal was fantastic, he’s always got one of those in his locker.
My criticism is that he can’t influence games in a way that’s required of a modern PL CAM, he’s a luxury and you don’t get luxury in the PL.
I can’t think of one other PL player that gets indulged in the way Ozil does.
Lots of Ozil talk for obvious reason, I think it’s clear to all with eyes that he’s supremely gifted but not returning enough. Fact remains however that he’s still returning moments of unparalleled quality in games he takes part in. It’s this reason I don’t have the axe to grind with him at present and would sooner see other ‘useless’ squad players shown the door for new blood ie Chambers, Elneny (circa 20 mil). If Ozil can be sold then fine, but his critics need to keep it consistent, either nobody would entertain Ozil or they would. This idea nobody… Read more »
Unlike most on here I think we don’t need a central defender in January. We have Sokratis, Kos, Mustafi, Mavro and Monreal when needed. Holding is injured and Chambers is on loan. That’s 7 center backs by June and probably 8 average to manageable Centre backs if we go on and add another. Wait for summer when you can get a CB that’s a total upgrade on all our defenders and bin 3 of the present ones. If we can get Tagliafico for left back and a Sarr/ Pepe for the wings in January I think we would be just… Read more »
*He, not 8th
I like how some on here act like Nicolas Pepe is some next level signing.. He isn’t
Its a punt, no matter the size of the fee
Sarr, Pepe, Lozano I really don’t care. I just want players who are actual wingers
Tony D I am as disappointed as many others that Ozil does not play to his full potential. However, the continuous posts slagging him so repetitively is unlikely to improve his performance or morale. He is STILL an Arsenal player. The fact is that he is a World Cup Winner and was rated on many occasions t Germany’s top player and a candidate for UEFA Ballon d’Or. The idea that he was always a “crap footballer” as many on here seem to think is ridiculous. Whatever you and many others may think he is still a very talented footballer and… Read more »
Arsenal under Emery have performed better than the club did last season if we compare our points, victories and goals scored column. However…. other stats tell a different story about the team, which is why I focus more on our defence than the attack. Despite Torreira’s inclusion in team our DEFENCE is shocking and watching yesterday’s performance against a limited Burnley confirmed this. We have conceded MORE goals this season in first 18 games than we did last season and more importantly have managed only 2 clean sheets. The club went into the season without Koscielny and Mavropanos has been… Read more »
One sublime pass leading to a goal, versus several appalling lapses of concentration (downright laziness) that puts the entire team on the ropes.
Oh dear, this is a difficult one. We are in a conundrum here. Outweighing the advantages against the disadvantages. What the hell do we do? How do you solve the problem that is Mesut Ozil?
I know. Give him a mega contract and build the team around him.