Goodbye Arsenal? – That’s Probably The Right Thing For Mesut Ozil!
Ask a Germany fan about Mesut Ozil and the response is likely to be positive but ask an Arsenal fan the same, and they may not provide the same reaction.
Ozil’s career graph is complicated, to say the least. In what could be his fifth and final season for Arsenal, the German playmaker is yet to secure a goal or an assist for Arsene Wenger’s side this season. He is also in a contract stand-off with the club and is expected to leave in January – possibly for another Premier League club, with Manchester United linked.
Injury has hampered the 28-year-old this season with him having made only 5 league appearances so far. While on the sidelines, Arsenal have won 5 of the 6 matches in which he has not started. The odd one out saw them hold Chelsea to a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge too, thus raising questions over the amount of value he adds to the squad.
Ever since he arrived in England, Ozil has been a player who has received mixed reactions. Worshipped by some, derided by others, Ozil’s body language on the pitch is always a matter debate, with many pundits slamming his seemingly lackadaisical physical behaviour. However, the fact still remains that over the course of his Arsenal tenure, Ozil tops almost every chart there is when it comes to creating chances – and that is what he is there for.
Despite those impressive numbers, there is a growing belief that Arsenal could be better off without their mercurial German – something that seems unfortunate considering the fanfare that greeted his arrival. Make no mistake – on his day, he is destructive, and his work-rate is underrated, yet his indispensability to the club on the whole is debatable.
It would be fair to say that Arsene Wenger has never been able to extract the best out of Ozil so far. More often than not, he is seen to be an almost invisible figure in the middle of park failing to make an impact. Upon his arrival, the manager deployed him on the left of a 4-2-3-1, but in recent times, Ozil plays on the right-hand side of a 3-4-2-1.
The 28-year-old is a creative outlet behind the striker, but this season, he has not played a role that allows him the freedom to do so, making him a liability for a side that did better in the presence of the likes of Iwobi and Welbeck out wide. Moreover, since the player is nearing 30, there is no point in him spending more time with the Gunners.
Besides, the fast-paced nature of the Premier League often makes him look slower. He is definitely not the strongest or quickest player at Arsenal but he does make up for it with his grace and creativity. What Ozil essentially needs is a system that provides him the space and freedom to get the best out of him. Right now, it is almost like people are criticising him for not being what he is not – and that is unfair.
He hasn’t won the Premier League even once during his four-year stay at Arsenal and a player like him deserves to win trophies. Ozil’s time at Arsenal is certainly forgettable since it seems to have only destroyed the reputation he worked hard for. He is a world-class player, which makes it all the more necessary for him to join a side that can let him play like one.
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