Saying Iwobi Can Replace Ozil Is A Joke!! by Dan Smith
So apparently the answer was staring us in the face the whole time. Drop Ozil and either replace him with Iwobi, or play an additional defensive midfielder allowing Ramsey to play further forward. So that’s where we went wrong a month ago at Anfield.
Criticism of Ozil highlights two major problems in the game, how fickle fans have become and how with the benefit of social media, opinions can be shared across the world in seconds.
Now the facts are with the German only starting once since that defeat at Liverpool, not just have we won 3 and drawn one of our last 4 league games we haven’t conceded a goal in the process. With those statistics, especially the clean sheet aspect, it’s hard to question Arsene Wenger’s decision making since the last international break.
Are we though really meant to believe that we wouldn’t have beaten West Brom and Brighton just as comfortably had the World Cup winner started. Bear in mind he did nothing wrong against Bournemouth, a knee injury meaning that was his only chance to make an impression since that humiliation on Merseyside.
This article is not meant to discredit Iwobi who took his goal well on Sunday and crucially offers the work rate that so many feel Ozil lacks in his game. But lets put things into perspective, it’s not like Iwobi has come in and cut teams to ribbons, he remains very inconsistent, particularly with his final ball.
Such has been Ozil’s demotion, there are fans welcoming the rumours that we may cash in on him in January rather then let him leave for nothing in the summer, a policy we refuse to adhere to regarding Sanchez. Surely our manager doesn’t stay in one job for 21 years if he bases a players future on two games against the Baggies and the Seagulls?
Of course a lot of gooners are happy to see the midfielder on the sideline because, regardless of form, this time next year he won’t be wearing the red and white shirt, maybe we want to believe that we have the squad capable of coping without our two star names? But if our boss truly believed that then he would have cashed in as early as July and spent the money – or told the board it was okay because Iwobi was ready to step up.
Arsenal as a club were willing to make the last transfer window a depressing headache for the extent of having two players at the Emirates for 12 more months, even though they knew neither wanted to be here. Now we are meant to believe that in the space of two months one of them is surplus to requirements?
Supporters that are happy to make Ozil a scapegoat (even when we are winning) should be prepared for their criticism of him to backfire. The more we make out we are happy with those playing instead of Ozil, the less likely our board will release funds for us to buy a replacement.
I can see Stan Kroenke now, patting Mr Wenger on the back as he banks the money given from Inter Milan, because after all we have Iwobi. Again, i stress the Nigerian has done nothing wrong. But when we go to Man City soon, I know who they would rather we have as our attacking midfielder. In fact I go as far as saying it could cost us as soon as Watford away if Ozil stays on the bench..
Dan