So, what shall we talk about today? Oh… squad lists.
Mesut Özil has been bombed from our Premier League squad list until February at the very least, but the chances are, that’s him finished forever at Arsenal FC.
It’s always a shame to watch someone push the self-destruct button on their career, and let’s be clear, that’s exactly what Mesut Özil has done to himself.
Most of his downfall is related to one thing… a lack of application. This is not an ability problem, he’s one of the most capable footballers to have lived. No, the issue is he simply doesn’t want to apply himself in 2020.
Arsene Wenger, the mollycoddler in chief, decided that he’d let him take tough away days off. Unai Emery knew the German wouldn’t do a shift, so he attempted to exit him in Jan 2019, then he lost his bottle, reinstated him, and his job shortly after. Freddie couldn’t stand him.
Then Mikel landed.
He knew what might happen because everyone at the club explained. After playing most of the games pre-lockdown, the old Mesut, lurking in the wings, reared his uninterested head. He apparently missed team Zoom calls, he didn’t do the homework the club set/tracked, and those ‘injuries’ didn’t go unnoticed.
Additionally, he didn’t play the game on the pay cuts, deciding that he’d need more info on how Arsenal losing £90m in gate revenue might affect the finances. Now, I doubt this was the main sticking point. Auba, Kola, and Mustafi were also apparently against the move. The problem, I think, is that when you are trying to build a united culture, having your most high profile player doing all of the earlier explained issues, plus not accepting a pay cut, can cause optics issues.
I know some people will say he was correct on the pay cuts. On reflection, sure, we fucked-up our restructure and the comms were atrocious. However, football is a team game. Mesut Ozil didn’t take the cut, the young players did. That might seem ‘clever’ to some, but the reality is, he just looked like a selfish individual while everyone else is pulled for the greater good.
Performance on the pitch was also a problem. He is not the same player he was 5 years ago. He’s a traditional #10 in a world that doesn’t allow for them. Andy Carroll managed more assists last season than Özil has managed in two. He simply doesn’t impact games in the way he used to. Remember, he went from blowing it up with Giroud, to tanking with… Auba. All his stats cratered.
A lot of people are trying to insinuate this move is about his righteous attack on the Chinese for their disgraceful treatment of the Uighurs. Again, I’m not so sure. He played games after that happened. This is a player that also had a brutal human rights abuser at his wedding. He also avoided blowback then as well.
He’s out because of football reasons. He doesn’t apply himself, he’d prefer to win cheap PR points than fight to get back in the team. The whole drama is just so fucking boring.
Arteta is trying to create a high-performance culture at Arsenal. One that we’ve lacked for years. People that work alone tend not to understand what goes into creating an elite team culture, which is why the beta male types that had it so absurdly wrong when it came to talents like, say, Arsene Wenger… still have it wrong with Mesut Özil. An artful quip does not make a good manager, just like a high salary and a ‘READY’ tweet does not make an elite #10 in 2020.
In a high-performance culture, every single cog in your machine needs to be at the very top of its game. Any weakness brings down everyone else. Mesut Özil is now a weak cog. He doesn’t think the rules apply to him. If Arteta gives him a pass, he gives everyone a pass, he loses authority, and performance levels dip.
Elite culture is about setting agreed standards, holding people accountable to them, and acting swiftly if people step out of line. We finally have a coach that will do that. Very few in elite level sport have been around a more extreme performance-driven setup than Arteta had been at Manchester City. He’s not guessing, he knows. So let’s trust that he has this covered.
What is clear is this: Arteta has to crack creativity. We need to find internal solutions. Willian has to look like value. Thomas Partey can’t simply be a defensive shield. We need our attack to progress, otherwise, the Öziltologists will start petitions and writers from the Crouch-End-Beyond-Meat-bacon-sarnie-set will start making poetic noises about our heathen manager that they’ll claim only goes to battle with barbarian pillagers. We can’t have that. Let’s hope Arteta can simply prove out that he was right by delivering us a ‘now’ solution that’ll lay to rest a miserable 3 years of Mesut Özil.
Right, see you in the comments.
Karsey
“They had plenty of warnings.”
Yeah, a warning like , everyone starts from zero and has an equal chance of selection and then proceeds to select 4 goalkeepers for the europa league squad..
Better to have told the truth i reckon, it just makes the club and Arteta look petty and amateurish.
Rich
Okay, salient point but…
He is still getting a £1m a month.
Auba will be getting a £1m a month for the next three.
Ditto Willan.
It’s not like Arsenal have found a loophole and have come out on top. We’ve been screwed.
Apart from his wankiness, I have no beef with Ozil.
Rumour mill says Ozil would join and captain FC Cayman Little next season.
GoH is the Roy Keane of Legrove
if ozil was a English word cup winner, hes treatment would be different, and the the English media would of gone in hard
at arsenal and arteta.
Tom
I’m a little better than Roy Keane.
Valentin Disagree on martial. His linkup play is superb. Before Bruno came,he was basically the guy knitting United’s attacks together. He was much improved last season. Haller is immobile like Giroud. Needs runners around him just like Giroud did. West ham don’t play to Haller’s strengths. But he is technically clean big man, very useful player. Raul Jimenez is great at every thing. He is Diego Costa 2.0. Just needs to play on a top team. Laca drops too deep because he is weak and can’t hold the ball up against defenders. If any of the above mentioned players played… Read more »
Rich
“Ozil has essentially declared war on the club, they need to make sure they win that war.”
Bulllshit..
Up until lockdown Ozil started every game and has been told since lockdown that he has an equal chance of playing as the next person..
So why shouldn’t he try and get back in the team if he is told consistently by the manager that he could play..
Would be a different scenario if back in march Arteta told ozil and the fans that Ozil is finished at the club..
Marc
They should have found a way. End of.
Make up a story about Ozil. He sexually assaults Wombats in his spare time? Grooms teens on Fortnight. Whatever it takes.
First and foremost, if we don’t tighten player contracts going forward Arsenal would continue to be raped financially in similar O-fashion. Well, it’s proven to work hasn’t it?
The only other thing that prevents the same from happening is simply the players’ professional pride. No amount of ‘non negotiable’ would do it better.
Also, agents play a part too. Ozil has a lawyer agent and i suspect has done well to safeguard his client’s financial rights!
GoH that was actually meant as a compliment
Can we cut Aubameyang some slack here?
We are having major problems transitioning from defence to attack dur to playing 5 across the back and having no midfield to speak of. We are not creating chances as we are not dominating games.
This will not change until a new system is put into place. Our entire front 3 are suffering.
GOH
If they had been honest from the outset, Ozil would be gone by now, but Arteta kept up this pathetic pretence that Ozil had a chance of playing .
Just get him out of the club. He must be stinking the place out in training.
And Pedro is right, taking a stand about the treatment of Uighur muslims yet cosying up to Erdogan. It seems that only muslim human rights matter to Ozil..
Was Wilshere’s contract by mutual consent or Wear Ham unilaterally did it?
From time to time, we hear clubs releasing players and terminating player contracts. Surely something Arsenal could learn from. Or is it UK employment law having deal breakers on that front?
Tom
Ummm, thanks? Being compared to a mouthy pikey isn’t the greatest thing ever said to me…but not the worst. Even today someone said “**** you’re dead inside”.
* real name hidden for online safety.
Wilshere’s contract *terminated* by
Anyone thinking Auba’s productivity has dropped off because he’s just signed a huge new deal is 🥜
Pierre
It’s all lip service and never ‘dissing’ a pro. But I agree. But, I also don’t think ozil would have left anyway. I wouldn’t. 31 and at the end and still getting £1m a month.
Lovely.
@Pierre –
“If they had been honest from the outset, Ozil would be gone by now”
Sorry, Pierre, I don’t believe this. Ozil never had any intention of leaving the club. His plan was to sit out his contract and bleed the club dry. He will never receive another contract again as the one he has at Arsenal. So like many others before him he would prefer to sit it out, not play football and collect his money every week. .
Highbury Legend
No. I have more symmetry. My father is Irish but not a pikey. Believe it or not, he has lineage to Westmeath.
I am of good bone structure. No inbreeding. Educated to nursery level. Winner.
Ozil is the Kontract King.
Pierre, it is very sweet that you think Sokratis and Ozil only just found out they weren’t part of the plans… but it’s not true and those players knew that this was a very likely scenario.
They should have left when they were offered deals elsewhere.
“Anyone thinking Auba’s productivity has dropped off because he’s just signed a huge new deal is 🥜“
I’m sure this crosses the mind of many.
Pre contract renewal, Auba’s intensity in games was huge and convincing. Running up and down the pitch, pressing *hard*, tracking back, tackling, defending corners, running *with intent* at defenders, crossing etc.
In the City game, to what extent had Auba done these??
GoH, here’s my favorite exchange between Roy Keane and a studio host:
Keane: “Man United are miles away from being a top club”
Studio host: “You mean top four?”
Keane with a cold stare : “No, I mean a top club”
Studio host: “you mean top two?”
Keane with the most condescending tone: “ top usually means one”
Yeah, this really came like lightning from a clear blue sky, how could Ozil have had any idea he wasn’t wanted by the club until this very moment, it’s not like we haven’t been actively trying to kick him out of the club for the last 18 months or more.
😂😂😂 look at him
Jim
“Sorry, Pierre, I don’t believe this. Ozil never had any intention of leaving the club.”
Probably not but my point is, he cannot be blamed for the situation , as up until 15 league games ago , he was an ever present and has never been told that he was surplus to requirements…the opposite in fact if you listen to Arteta’s press conferences.
Read on Twitter that if Ozil had done half as well on the pitch as he has with his PR we wouldn’t be in this situation.
Dead true. Efforts have been the wrong place
Tom
He is good for a angry sound bite.
We fuck off Ozil but before we do we’ll sign another past their best, Willian and give him 250k a week. This club is fucking nuts
Pierre, since just about every single blogger, poster (including yourself) and commentator has been saying for months that the club was trying to force Ozil out I don’t know how you can have the bare faced cheek to say it wasn’t clear to the player what was going on.
Pierre I’m afraid I have some devastating news for you. What is said in public by politicians, company’s, football clubs or individual is not always the same as what is said in private. All of the players who are seen to be not in the mix will be aware of that and told that they will not play, we’d accept bids for them and that if they do want to play they should get their agents to find them another club. Meanwhile Arteta would be locked in the boot of a car to stop him persuading any of them to… Read more »
Roy K has himself to blame in that exchange.
Should have said *the* top club if he meant number 1 rather than ‘a’ top club.
Don’t even need the VAR.
Arsenal press conferrence:
Reporter: Mikel what do you make of Ozil?
Arteta: He’s a useless cunt on too much money.
Reporter: So what are your plans for him?
Arteta: We’re hoping that someone stupid enough will take him off of our hands.
Reporter: Do you think that’s likely after calling him a useless cunt?
Arteta: Doh
Pedro
“… but it’s not true and those players knew that this was a very likely scenario.”
Does this mean that Arteta was dishonest in his press conferences and if he has been dishonest..
Why.
Surely it would have been easier to tell the truth, it doesn’t look good on the club….it looks petty and a pretty pathetic way for the club to act..
Ozil strike back.
Talk about loyalty blah blah blah…
Somehow it reminds of the latter Wenger era loyalty pitch.
Difference is, one came from RM and the other insinuated RM offers…
Useroz
This wasn’t Auba’s first ever new and improved deal you know, and there’s nothing in his performance history to suggest this sort of pattern.
The City game was more down to tactics and team set up by Arteta than any individual player’s hustle or lack there of.
Marc
“I’m afraid I have some devastating news for you. What is said in public by politicians, company’s, football clubs or individual is not always the same as what is said in private.”
What have Arteta or Arsenal to gain by being dishonest in public ..nothing.
Raptors Firstly throw the team sheet out of the window. Re-watch Arsenal games carefully. Arsenal play different formations in different phases of the game. IN POSSESSION: The LCB becomes LB And LWB Becomes LCM. So to answer your question- AMN was the 3rd CM vs Fulham. Saka was the 3rd CM vs west ham, Sheffield United, Liverpool and man City. Both Saka and AMN were LWB in theory but practically in possession they were playing LCM. Just watch games more carefully. As to why Arteta drops the CF deep? It’s his favoured attacking dynamic. Attracts the attention of the CBs… Read more »
Not sure how anyone can even be bothered with the Mesut saga at this point.
Edu needs to step up and end this. Worse case pay him in full by weeks end, better cut a deal. But end it he must. Mesut has become THE topic which isn’t fair to anyone else trying to ball for this club.
Meanwhile Rambo hitting some notes for Juve, smh.
“Roy K has himself to blame in that exchange. Should have said *the* top club if he meant number 1 rather than ‘a’ top club”
That’s exactly why it was funny
Pierre Emery essential told Ozil, Mustafi, Kolasinac to do one, the players felt unloved, and he lost the dressing room. This might be a new concept to you, but what public figures say public ally, and what is said privately, are usually two very different things. It’s called diplomacy, look it up. If Arteta says publicly that Ozil + Sokratis are finished, he’s basically giving our media, who don’t need an excuse to run a negative or sensationalist story, license to run amok with headlines of bust ups and disharmony. Arteta just took the sting out of the story, the… Read more »
I am not surprise that not a single Le Grover mentions Ozil’s response to his current situation. I would expect that Pedro would at least report about it.
Maybe next summer will be the real rebuilding.
Though no excuses not to finish in the top 4 or win the EL.
I’m happy to have a rigid and hard to beat arsenal team at present than one who plays with no fear. We need to be looking to win 1-0 not 5-4.
Andy Stan didn’t front up the 45 he made up the difference because we were already negotiating for auoar and/ or Partey . We had enough for a down payment on one of them and wanted to pay the rest in instalments. We had the emi money , we bought Gabriel . It’s ok to back arteta but you can’t change the facts he made poor decisions to have opportunities to change to the squad for the better . There was a bid for xhaka There was a bid for AMN He did devalue guens worth . If he chooses… Read more »
Marc
In Arteta’s initial games, the right side wasn’t ignored.
I can’t believe a coach would say simply ignore 50% of the pitch.
I hope a journalist asks this question to Arteta.
I am bemused tbh
Pierre
If you can’t see the reasons to not slag the player off in public then you’re too far gone to help.
Leftfoot
Well he’s not correcting the imbalance so somethings wrong either way.
Tom.
I’d imagine Roy gruffly telling his dog about the exchange during their daily jogging routine. How dare the kid asking me three times?? Wot a jerk.
As to Auba. I hope not. But previous contracts were nowhere’s near the current deal and he’s into his 30s.
Auba is not the sort, me thinks, but he needs to up his game (again) quick. Unfortunately we need his goals. Calvin somebody scored 10 already. Oh my
Lol at Pierre for suggesting that Arteta be 100% straight and honest at all times when discussing players. Wenger made a career out of misleading everyone, for example: ‘You can’t let players like Cesc and Nasri leave and still be a big club’ (two weeks later and both were gone). ‘Sanogo could be a £50m player’ hahahaha….
“Auba is not the sort, me thinks, but he needs to up his game (again) quick. Unfortunately we need his goals. Calvin somebody scored 10 already. Oh my“
Yea, Calvin somebody has also taken a boat load of shots and spent hardly any time in his own half defending or bringing up play.
Calvin plays in his best position, auba doesn’t
Tom sounds like Sid, looool
Auba definitely better on the left. Don’t know what he does in the center. He can still come in for tap ins from the left and he’s got a good chance at goal when defenders are backing off rather than dueling with him.
We need laca back in the side.
so, who exactly did Arteta replace Ozil with? I couldn’t tell who that was in the city game. wasn’t Willian was it?
That Mesut statement was about expected for such a man. Heavy on the victim card huge implication that it’s because of his comments re China and uighurs. I loved it if I’m honest because it again highlights his attitude and how it completely goes against what the club is going for these days. Hard work and harmony everyone going in the same direction but Ozil has to make it about himself and his plight. Pathetic creature of the highest order and it’s a shame the club signed him all those years back. Also a shame Wenger allowed such an individual… Read more »
Sending a lil message out to our Nigerian LG’rs, keep it chill, keep it safe.
News sounds sketchy on this end.
Tom If you look at Aubameyang’s career over the past 6 years, he’s not a player who’s heavily involved in games, he’s not a possession based player. He’d regularly have 10-20 touches in 90 minutes at Dortmund, Aubameyang’s game is more about his movement off the ball, covering ground incredibly quickly, and being efficient in his finishing, only Vardy last season had higher chance conversion. At the moment outside Saka, nobody is consistently carving open defences. Which is a problem when your game is mainly running into space, and converting chances, like Aubameyang. I think what Arteta is doing in… Read more »
Just to let you know I’ve finished reading Wenger’s book.
Zzzzzzz👎
You all knew that anyway.
Without wishing to state the bleeding obvious ! Managers do not slate players publicly if they want to offload them (hopefully for a fee but in this case for nothing), they have less value and hand all the negotiating power to the buyer. The final nails in Ozil’s coffin was not taking a pay cut, and the crowning turd in the pipe, trying to make a cheap dig at the club by offering to pay Gunnersaurus’s wages. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Arteta had nothing to do with Ozil being ousted from the PL squad. Good riddance to… Read more »
I get the feeling Pierre’s really lost it this time and will be found like the Dreyfuss character out of Close Encounters building a giant Ozil statue out of mashed potato in his lounge.
HighburyLegend
Define loyalty Mesut.
I just assumed CG was still banned but I forgot about Wenger’s autobiography – reckon CG’s wanked himself to death reading it.
Wanking oneself to death is that more a stamina issue or more primal like a shot to the heart and capitulation?
sal
Don’t care really as long as I don’t have to see his comments on here anymore.
ends and means!
Bang on the money. Hasnt been the same since he chucked Germany under a bus, and he wasn’t up to much before that either. Ozil’s a man who thinks he’s bigger than the club. Couldnt be happier to finally see the back of rhe prick.
I feel that Partey feel good factor has waned, lots of negativity, especially after the City game and Arteta’s not so clever experiments with team selection. Can’t wait to see what Tomas can bring to the team, perhaps in tomorrow’s game. We need some good results and performances to lift the mood.
The only way the mood will lift is if kroenke sells the club and we get a proper manager and board who know what the fuck they’re doing
Redbro
I don’t consider our recent performances disappointing.
More expected results, where I’m happy we remained competitive throughout.
There wasn’t much in the game on Sat, and had our finishing been more efficient, or key decisions gone the other way, we’d be talking about a tactical masterclass from Arteta, rather than our lack of ambition.
Smoke and mirrors, cloaks and daggers….
Well Arteta has pissed off ozil. He came out with a victim statement. Any one that loves football and can earn some of the amount would cancel the contract now. They might give him at least 5 mil of the the 12 or so mil that is left but I know he wouldnt take it. But sure he is training to be ready and no to let his arsenal career end like this* wink wink. He is generous and giving in his personal life but he is a terrible professional. I liked him before but now I cant wait till… Read more »
It’s clear Ozil is out pellets in his small gum when the only card left to play is the Fake Loyalty card.
What a bloody Loser!
His claims of loyalty equate to No one wanted me!
Fark Off bloody bug eyed twat!
Ozil is lashing out on twitter even though Arteta would have given him the news days ago privately.
He’s had several opportunities to leave the club, he refused.
He deserves all the grief he gets. He can enjoy his money and fortnite until he fucks off in June 2021.
Loyalty works both ways.
Being the highest paid employee of a club comes with some responsibilities like leading by example.
Part of the reason the mood is a bit flat on here is because Pedro oversold Arteta – he was the Saviour who was going to make everything amazing again. Any sensible salesman knows don’t oversell your product – clients will always be disappointed because expectations have been pushed too high. The facts are the PL is all over the place results wise and our results haven’t been terrible but when you’re promised sauce and the football looks like a Spanish Tony Pulis is at the helm it gets people down. The fact that we’re seeing “odd” team selections really… Read more »
Ozil the freedom fighter had a despot as best man for his wedding.
Dissenter
Turning up for team meetings would be a start!
Totally agree Habesha. This last 18 months has slowly changed my view of Ozil, and I’ve lost near enough all respect for him. Instead of rising to the cause when Wenger left and being a real beacon/leader in an understandably trepidatious new chapter, he was an entitled brat. Treated Emery like a prick because he could, played games on social media where the opportunity arose, and made it all about himself wherever possible. When Arteta landed he tried to shelf it and get back to doing what he’s paid for, but after a few months of tougher rules, harsher expectations,… Read more »
By the way, my commiserations to Pierre
Such a nice fellow, he must be hurting right now.
It was obvious for 2 weeks that Ozil will be excluded from the premier league squad. Why the shock ?
Marc The club should have shunted Ozil out the moment he had that tantrum directed at Emery in Baku. Did you read those Ramsey’s comments from many years back Asked about who’s the teacher’s pet in the team, he replied “Probably, Mesut. He’s the teacher’s pet.” “He gets a few extra days off than the rest of us” “”Probably, Mesut. He’s the teacher’s pet.” Ramsey told Soccer AM. “He gets a few extra days off than the rest of us”, “He’s always in the boss’s room asking for something, and he seems to get it.” Wenger created the template for… Read more »
No reason why Ozil couldn’t be gotten into the premier league squad though. No reason why he couldn’t get the odd game here and there considering we’re not exactly firing on all cylinders attack wise
Loyalty bonus is easy to come by, 8 million of it …when you’re Mesut Ozil.
I don’t recollect Pedro thinking the sauce would be ready in 10 months ?
To make a good sauce, you need fresh ingredients, not stale shit that’s years out of date !
Today’s training video is 🔥 🔥 🔥 Saka is magic, even with his right foot, such an amazing talent. Our most exciting player to watch since Cazorla. Still think Nelson will become a really top player, when you look at what Willian has produced so far, you’d do well to make a coherent argument about the logic in blocking Nelson’s path. Really hope we don’t lose him, hopefully we get him on a 5 year deal, then get him out on loan to pick up a steady run of games. Either his value skyrockets and we sell, or he becomes… Read more »
Erdogan a despot , really. You obviously know a lot about the man, let me guess he went to war on false pretences causing the deaths of many innocent woman and children as well as the deaths and maiming of his own soldiers, and all that to line his pockets with oil money……oh no sorry that was bush and Blair
Bergkamp
The way Pedro was pushing Arteta was like we were going to have an instant Rapture and be catapulted into sauce, sauce and more sauce.
Today I learned we’ve played with 3 midfielders from the begining of the season. Courtesy of Leftfoot.
Batistuta
What if he’s not impressing the manager in training?
Do you expect the manager to have one rule for Ozil and another for the rest?
How did he do in the 11 of 12 games he started for Arteta from Dec 2019 -March 2020?
Dissenter
I’ve heard ManU players talk about how Cantona used to get special treatment but then that was Cantona.
The quicker the club has no connection with Ozil the better.
Charlie, Yep the past few seasons have totally changed my opinion on him. As I have just found out, loyalty is hard to come by nowadays. I’ve always tried to remain positive from week to week that there’s maybe a chance to get back in the squad soon again. That’s why I kept silent so far ‘But then things changed, again, and I was not longer allowed to play football for Arsenal. What else can I say? London still feels like home, I still have many good friends in this team, and I still feel a strong connection with the… Read more »
Marc,
We need more corn flour (midfield) to thicken it, still a bit wishy washy atm !
TYAGN
Erdogan is a despot. He’s so freaking diabolical that his guards can’t even hold back from pummeling peaceful demonstrators outside the Turkish embassy in DC in 2017 .
His guards crossed the road to grab their placards and beat these people to a pulp – it was so bad that police had to restrain them.
If he can do that in full public view in a major international capital, what do you think he”s doing at home.?
Its kind of ironic that at a time when we are truly struggling for creativity, we go and exclude our most creative player from the playing squad ?
Obviously if Arteta finds a solution to the creativity issue then its all good. But this doesn’t seem like a good decision
For goodness sake, leave the politics alone or I’m again for another 6 months !
*off
Speaking of politics I made a 1000 quid bet with my mate trump will lose election
Erdogan is also a Muslim extremist.
When religion takes over a country, society or politics its always for the worst
Reading Wenger’s book is like heaping sugar on Frosties: sickening sweet and dreadfully dull.