Mesut Ozil’s familiar pattern of injuries continues

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So here we are again, Mesut Ozil drops out of the Arsenal trip to Liverpool complaining of a pain in his knee.

Is it real? Could be. Is it made up? History would suggest that when Mesut thinks bad news is coming there’s often a reaction. Whatever it is, I’m not really surprised that we’re here talking about the mercurial German again.

It’s quite interesting watching a certain group of fans use this issue as something to pin on Emery as bad management.

I think fans need a reminder of what Mesut Ozil has been for Arsenal.

This is the most expensive player on our books by about £150k a week. I know people don’t like the fact I mention the figure, but that’s because it’s a baffling number when you consider his drawbacks. It doesn’t matter how you package money, in football, it should be related to what you consistently deliver to the team. ‘It’s not his fault he’s paid that much’ isn’t an argument I’m afraid.

Mesut needs perfect conditions to perform these days. Nice weather, preferably a little break before he plays, he’s no good away from home, doesn’t like to play bruisers or teams that drop a heavy press, and he also doesn’t like to have to muck in for the team, nor will he play out on the right.

We thought his issue before was having to play with Giroud, so Lacazette was going to unleash his creativity. Didn’t happen. Then we thought signing a striker with pace would help him. Didn’t happen. Then we thought it was Wenger, so we waited for the World Cup, where he tanked. Then we waited for Emery, and he once again tanked.

Not to get into the weirdness of him being given tough away days off by TWO Arsenal managers. Imagine that, being 30 years old, the highest paid player at the club, and you’re given tough games off because the manager thinks you’re lightweight? Embarrassing…

Anyone who thinks the Ozil situation under Emery is weird hasn’t been paying attention to what’s going on in football or on a personal level with the player. The game does not allow for passengers, especially when you’re a Europa League side trying to climb into the Champions League. Mesut is a passenger these days, he’s a quarterback who only wants to do what he wants to do.  How does Emery have any other choice outside moving him on?

Can we beat Liverpool away in the Premier League? Likely not. Is taking Mesut there going to change things? Unlikely, he couldn’t make it past 45minutes against Brighton.

Be on the lookout for Arsenal fans using this to go at Unai Emery. The careful-what-you-wish-for contingent are stinging after their summer humiliation. They are softening fans up for questions over the manager because he’s taken all the bold decisions most people who have really been paying attention tend to agree with. Mesut Ozil has been a disaster signing for Arsenal and Emery is addressing that problem as we speak. That’s decisive, it’s bold and it’s the right decision.

If we’re going to beat Liverpool this afternoon, it’s going to be with a team of professionals dedicated to the cause. It’ll have to be a full-throttle performance from every single player. We are capable of such a game as you saw in our destruction of Spurs a few weeks ago, but even if we fail, we’re playing the Premier League leaders with two of our most talented player unavailable because of form or contract troubles.

Our defence looks ripe for destruction. I have no idea how Lichtsteiner and Koscielny are expected to survive an onslaught from the outrageous pace of the Liverpool side, outside a very deep block. In midfield, we don’t have much choice outside a bland offering of three defensive midfielders and up front, our hopes and prayers rest on Auba and Lacazette having an outrageously potent day at the office.

Liverpool’s unbeaten run can’t last forever, but I do think they’re too much for us to handle as a team today.

But, it is what it is, and I don’t think there’s any brand of Mesut Ozil that would help us through today.

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Cesc Appeal

Bamford That is exactly what I would do. Without Shaqiri they can sometimes lack a way of breaking through if teams aren’t leaving themselves open to counters. I would sit, absorb and then break with pace. It’s the absorbing part though, that defence is worrying. The club have to buy in January and sell Ramsey and Ozil. Emery has my full backing with Ozil. Ozil is no different to Wenger in terms of being detrimental to our future. With Reyes joining the coaching team and Banega looking likely it seems the club are backing Emery. Emery is clearly trying to… Read more »

Upstate Gooner

azed
Yes, that Frank de Boer. The one who had Ajax playing like a well oiled machine on both sides of the pitch. The one who understood that offense wins you games but its defense that wins you championships. Klopp recognized it too and look where they are now. As for Carlo, wasn’t he sacked like the next season? Ronaldo was not too pleased with Ozil’s sale.

bennydevito

Upstate Gooner, Bob, Pierre and Dream 10; the cult of Wenger and Uncle Tony live on. Had nothing to say about Wenger for 10 years and now try to pin Wenger’s grotesque ineptitude on Emery.

The delusion and agenda is unbelievable. Get yourself back to Uncle Tony you untold plants.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Could be a bad day
United creeping up

Bob

the club is in a big mess
ozil
Ramsay
welbeck
monreal: old
koscielny:t old
lichtsteiner: old
and a manger who got sacked last season even after winning the French league.

Bamford10

Azed

“Ancelotti sold Ozil and played Di Maria in midfield, I’m sure Upstate and Pierre believe Ancelotti doesn’t know what he was doing.”

And he won the CL in his first season. Ultimately Madrid went with Modric rather than Ozil and they were absolutely correct to do so.

Joe

Can’t wait to see the back of wellbeck too.

Too many years of watching shit players wenger rated

Top manager my ass

Joe

Biggest reason arsenal are a mess is because of fans like Pierre and Bob who backed the imbecile wenger for the last 12 years and let him have carte Blanche with running and ruining arsenal

But now it’s emery’s fault

Hey bob

Why didn’t wenger re sign Ramsey and wellbeck before he allowed them to get to last year of deals??

Bob

a club size of arsenal and the only winger they have is iwobi that’s disgusting

Joe

Bob

What wingers did wenger sign?

Oh right he played ozil, Ramsey jack, bedtner out wide

Joe

A club the size of arSenal allowed wenger to be manger for 12 years too long is disgusting and allowing him to set us so far behind.

Joe

Arsenal to draw or win tonight

Bob

bottom line is the owners don’t want to spend money. arsenal had sale Sanchez,Walcott,giroud for aubameyang

Marc

Joe

I fucking hope you are right. I’ll buy you a beer if you are!

Marc

Bob

Wrong we didn’t sell Sanchez we did a swap for Miki. So it was Walcott and Giroud for Aba.

By the way who’s the top scorer in the PL at the moment?

Joe

Marc

I’ll take you up on that beer 🙂

We should have sold Sanchez instead of getting mkhit. Man U robbed us. Wellbeck. Mkhit. Sylvester. And taking RVP.

They made wenger their bitch for years

Guns of Hackney

Peter…mate. Save yourself 300 words to describe Ozil and use one…it rhymes with what people in Oxford like to do on the river during the summertime. Begins with a p. Yesterday I tongue in cheeked about Liverpool scoring more than man yoo did against Ipswich. I was called all sorts for even suggesting it. Typical. The funny thing is that the real champagne Charlie (not our one) always used to have a bet on arsenal scoring ten in a game. This was back when we were a weapon…not the powderpuff we have now. So, it could happen again…Liverpool and Salah… Read more »

Bob

by the way who is 13ponts behind Liverpool.
Sanchez,Walcott,giroud,coquelin
for mikki and auba.

Marko

Is Bob alright? He usually just comes on and says something vaguely ( but obviously) anti British. Now he’s just incoherent and mad all the time

Marc

Bob

Fuck me you make Pierre look only slightly demented.

Bob

Ramsay and wilshere both out within a year that’s the end of British core crap

Marko

Ah there he is

Bob

ok maybe Eddie Howe for the next arsenal job?

Bob

how is former futher arsenal and England captain Jack wilshere doing at West ham?

Marko

He’s off on his own this lad

Joe

by the way who is 13ponts behind Liverpool.
Sanchez,Walcott,giroud,coquelin
for mikki and auba

Bob. We were 20 points back last season at this point. Under wenger.

By the way

Bob

Joe
So emery has made a 7point different, big deal.

Marc

Bob wants to bring Coquelin back and get rid of Torreira.

Bob

marc
when did I say that? I want England’s Jack wilshere back

azed

“Yes, that Frank de Boer. The one who had Ajax playing like a well oiled machine on both sides of the pitch. The one who understood that offense wins you games but its defense that wins you championships. Klopp recognized it too and look where they are now. As for Carlo, wasn’t he sacked like the next season? ” What happened at Crystal Palace? How come they were the worst defending team in the EPL? Frank’s Crystal Palace team was also the worst offence in the EPL. Did Frank suddenly forget how to oil the attack and defense machinery? As… Read more »

Marc

You complained that we got rid of Coq, Giroud, Walcott and Sanchez who were better than what we’ve brought in.

Make your mind up.

Joe

Bob

Did you not take your meds this morning?

Bob

Marc
I said we had to get rid of 4 players just get 2.

Marko

I said we had to get rid of 4 players just get 2.

We signed 7 players the last two windows you numpty

gonsterous

I keep saying, the fans should have wanted wenger out the moment he uttered the phrase “I knew United would win the title the moment I sold them RVP”. our most bitter rival and he hands them the title. Any other manager and they would be shown the door. only at arsenal would they sing “one arsene wenger ” for that stupidity.

Marko

Gambon will be delighted with the links to that Samuel lad at Villarreal.

Leftsidesanch

“I knew United would win the title the moment I sold them RVP”.

He really was a mad scientist. This is something you say in the confines of your living room. Not in public.

Marc

Bob

We’ve had the 3rd highest net spend in the PL up to last summer. I’m sure you’ll some made up fantasy to explain that.

Marc

Should have added over the previous 5 seasons

raptora

Good goal by Arry. With his left foot from way out.

Joe

Wenger should Have been sacked for numerous bollocks that came out of his mouth

Top 4 is a trophy

I’d take second for the next 20 years.

What a loser

Samesong

Bob you are mental so you and Wilshire are on good terms again?

Samesong

Wilshere*

Paulinho

“With Reyes joining the coaching team and Banega looking likely it seems the club are backing Emery”

Think that one is Spanish April Fools joke.

Leftsidesanch

Bob btw isnt a troll like that cretin Pierre who should be ignored. He’s barking mad and quite comical.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Any team news

alexanderhenry

Ozil is a real problem. I’m really not sure how we can get rid of him. Who’s going to match that salary?
I think we all agree that the club need to spend significantly- be it in January or the summer and literally throwing 300 grand away every week won’t help at a club that prides itself on being miserly.

raptora

No lineup yet but I bet that Mustafi and Bellerin both start. We’ve got no other choice. If we start the game with Licht and Kos, bindippers won’t even have to sweat tonight.

raptora

Dunno how I feel about Mustafi, Sok, Monreal back 3. Could be worth exploring. We kind of looked decent when we had the first two and Holding as a back 3 with Bellerin and Kola on either side of them.

Could see it in action in an hour.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Well well well

HillWood

How many £ millions does the academy cost
Does it represent value for money
Or would the money be better spent buying ready-made players

Leftsidesanch

Bellerin is out rap

raptora

Spuds getting outplayed by Wolves for most of the game. Too bad I don’t see them scoring since they look pretty bad in attack.

raptora

I FKIN JINXED IT.

GG raptora!!!

Come on Wolves!

Up 4 grabs now

Nice one wolves

Dissenter

Wolves are really good for a newly promoted club.
Spurs will probably still find a way to win, they have too many divers on the field.

TheLegendaryDB10

I really hope that the players are up for it today because Liverpool are certainly going to be ready. They will want to consolidate their current league position and we can be there for the taking considering the way we have played in our last few games.

This can get ugly I fear.

TheBayingMob

Today could get fucking brutal. I despise the fact that we go to Anfield and if we come out 2-0 or even 3-1 that might be a good result. I can’t stand Liverpool and it’s killing me inside that they are looking like they might be good for a title. It’s sickening. Worst case scenario seeing them and the Scum up top. Absolutely nauseating. I’m considering watching from behind the couch today I’m expecting such a hiding …

Micheal

Leno, Lichtsteiner, Sokratis, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Torreira, Ramsey, Maitland-Niles, Iwobi, Aubameyang

Subs: Cech, Elneny, Koscielny, Lacazette, Guendouzi, Willock, Saka

Leftsidesanch

Mustafi in

Dissenter

Wolves have better wide players than Arsenal

Up 4 grabs now

I think three at the back is the way to go against the bindippers.
Tell the full backs to sit ten yards back as well then try and Nick something on the break with laca and auba up top.
Guendouzi and tortures in front of the centrebacks and Iwobi in the hole.
Not the best team but it’s about all we could put out.

Bob

Maitland-Niles starts, say no more

Dissenter

I think Emery needs to give Saka a start ahead of Iwobi.
He needs to changes things because it’s way too predictable with Iwobi. He is out of form and doesn’t even deserve a place on the bench.
I don’t like the pattern of repeatedly playing players who are out of sorts.

Bob

idot has put Ramsay,iwobi,Maitland-Niles to prove every one wrong.

Nelson

We play 3 at the back. But there is no Laca. Why play Iwobi instead of Laca???

Up 4 grabs now

As long as Xhaka is in midfield and not centreback then he can’t do as much damage.
Ramsay better have his disciplined hat on and get back.

Dissenter

bob
“idot has put Ramsay,iwobi,Maitland-Niles to prove every one wrong.”
You need to place your fingers in a vice.
Who else does he have to play, there aren’t too many choices, are there?

Bob

Subs: Cech, Elneny, Koscielny, Lacazette, Guendouzi, Willock, Saka
this is bench? no chance to win anything with that alot.

Dissenter

Harry Kane with a good dive there…got caught.

Up 4 grabs now

Kane diving again, at least atwell had the balls to yellow card him.

Bob

Harry kane to get a obe for that

Dissenter

Woooooaaaaa
Spursy day

Micheal

Wolves 2 – 1 up

Up 4 grabs now

Get in wolves

Leftsidesanch

Wolves up!!

kc

Fuck yeah Get in Wolves!!

Marc

Bob’s right – if we only had a bench with Walcott, Coquelin and Giroud on it, stick Wilshere in the stands because he’s injured and we’d be unstoppable.

Marc

Spud’s losing!

Dissenter

Lloris is still on the bottle
He was day dreaming there

Bob

Tottenham got what they deserved

Nelson

Without Laca, Auba will be so isolated upfront. I want Auba to outscore our opponents. Hopefully, Laca will play in the second half.

Bob

marc
add Sanchez to that bench

Kayciey

Who can defend this Arsenal lineup…….get this clown outta my club asap.

Marc

Spud meltdown

Micheal

Wolves 3 – 1 up !!!!!!!

Dissenter

Spurs-cious performance

Leftsidesanch

3-1, well and truly bottled!!!!

kc

Spuds getting embarrassed at home. Love it!

raptora

I FKIN JINXED ITTT

FK YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS

DELETED!!!!!

Thorough

Wolves 3. I love this game.

Bob

1-3 come on wolves

TR7

Emery getting on my nerves with his messing around with Lacazete. What manager starts Iwobi and benches Laca ? Idiotic decision .

Dissenter

I still thought Spurs would win because off their diving prowess.
The referee wasn’t buying their desperate diving attempts though.

G8

Give this referee a knighthood!

Dream10

Klopp really going for it. Two attacking fullbacks plus Shaqiri Salah and Mané

Fantastic to see Ramsey in the XI. Need us to be a little lucky defensively and for Aubameyang or the Welsh Wonder to nick a goal. Shame Lacazette is not starting. Hope we’re equal when he comes on. Come on you Gunners

Bob

auba upfront by himself. Iwobi is pure shit and Ramsay won’t want to get injured. but we do have Maitland-Niles.

TheBayingMob

Wow. What a come back by wolves. At least that’s a silver lining for today’s trip to Anfield …

Paulinho

“Ramsay better have his disciplined hat on and get back.”

Hilarious stuff. How about he actually tries to do something going forward, that being his strength and with the idea being to score goals at some point?

The useless cone Xhaka doesn’t do anything but stay behind the ball so he and Torreira should be more than enough in terms of numbers.

Dissenter

I would start Saka ahead of Iwobi right now, that’s how bad Iwobi has been recently.
Iwobi doesn’t even due to basics right again, he doesn’t provide even the basic industry required and just looks like he’s burnt toast.
I expect that we will start reading of rumors linking Lacazette to other clubs soon.