Isn’t it Emery’s Job To Get The Best Out Of Ozil? by Dan Smith
When Arsenal were unbeaten for 22 games it was very easy to stick out your chest and say that Ramsey and Ozil were not needed at the club. Many complimented Emery for not being afraid to drop the two midfielders, perceived as two of Arsene Wenger’s favourites. Most of our performances during that sequence of results and certainly over the last two weeks prove we have no one who can replace the German in terms of assists or the Welshmen’s threat from scoring from midfield.
Gooners seem to be judging the two on the salaries they demand but let’s be honest who in our current squad could you not question over the last couple of years? It’s not like our club worry about fans overpaying so don’t worry about their wage bill. Ozil is one of our most gifted individuals. In his late twenties he’s not going to adapt his game to suddenly become an aggressive tackler. He’s at a level where on his day he’s unplayable but not consistent enough to be in the bracket of a truly world class player. That’s okay. You can only be your best, it doesn’t mean he’s faking injuries or being a diva.
Unai Emery is also being paid a lot of money. Apparently, this man was first choice on a short list of 30 applicants. Part of his job criteria is to get the very best out of what he has. He would have known from the interview stage that Ramsey and Ozil are our two best talents and the owner is a man who has zero ambition of competing for the title. So, the Spaniard has supported the decision to let Rambo leave for free, most likely to a top 4 rival, while he doesn’t play a World Cup winner in a North London Derby for ‘tactical reasons’. The fact he then makes the same man captain 3 days later suggests it really was as simple as a coach’s choice to rest him midweek.
When did we as supporters accept managers washing their hands of talent, what happened to coaching them or showing some man management? When Jose wouldn’t bring on Pogba at Liverpool it was seen as a statement, a man putting his personal grievance ahead of the team.
Just because Emery is new does not make him exempt from criticism. He’s not a novice, he worked at PSG, a dressing room full of young men making millions. His idea to get the best out of Ozil is to drop him? What does that leave us with? A man who couldn’t cut it at United and Iwobi. It’ laughable to suggest Iwobi could even lace Ozil’s boots yet alone replace him. Ramsey won’t be here this time next year and some fans I know wish the same of Ozil.
But ask yourself is Stan Kroenke really going to invest to get the best possible replacements? If not, then our coach should maximise what he does have, not freeze them out the team. Inspire them, find what makes them tick, motivate, don’t just shrug your shoulders and pick someone who you know is worse. Without Ozil or Ramsey we possess the least creative midfield in recent memory.
Wenger was accused of playing Ozil and Ramsey no matter what? Looking at the alternatives I can’t blame him.
Can you?
Dan Smith