Given he clearly doesn’t rate him, it’s ironic that Emery’s long-term future at Arsenal could be decided on how he handles Ozil. The owners will side with the manager, they too want a 350,000 pounds a week player off the wage bill.
The player is aware that if his employers had their way he would have been sold in the summer, and they will try to offload him again in January, even if it means contributing towards his salary. While our boss is quick to talk about what the World Cup winner does not offer, that doesn’t mean you ignore his strengths either.
There are only so many games you can walk away from bemoaning a lack of creativity while leaving a proven playmaker at home. In my opinion not having a man with a record amount of assists in your squad, then playing a DM in that role is a sackable offence.
Emery is also being paid lots of money with the criteria of getting the best out of what he has. If he thinks that Torreira is more likely to break down a defence, or Nelson has more confidence in the final third, then we have a right to question his judgement.
The other theory is he’s impressing the Kroenke’s by slashing outgoings, like he did when insisting Ramsey didn’t fit into his plans. Would Rambo not be a better option in a midfield three? Or worse he’s putting his personal feelings towards someone ahead of what’s best for the team. Ozil’s priority will be to ensure he doesn’t have to take any kind of pay cut and nor should he, it’s not his fault he’s been overpaid. A move to America for example would allow him to keep his current earnings, live in an even more lucrative country and still enjoy a quality lifestyle. After all, there’s only so long anyone will tolerate going to work and being ignored. Yet if he really has zero desire to move from London, which his agent insists is the case, then every time we produce a display like Monday is music to his ears.
He won’t admit it in public but every time fans bemoan zero creativity; it plays into his hands.
If we fail to qualify for the CL, of which there are no guarantees, he will be working with a new face who might rate him. Even if we squeezed into the top 4, I would want our owners to consider if there were a better option available. You see it’s not about Emery not rating Ozil, it’s what it represents. This is a man who had the same feelings towards Ben Arfa at PSG, who was never comfortable with the power Neymar had.
It’s not like Ceballos is playing instead, nor did he get the best out of Mkhitaryan. He simply doesn’t like flair. At Arsenal FC our ethos, principles, reputation is for playing beautiful football. Emery is showing he’s not the man to do that….
Dan Smith