Out of all our ex-players Martin Keown has been one of the best at being a pundit, not too loyal where he can’t admit flaws with the club, but not burying us either to suit his own agenda. Like many gooners, Keown has been very critical of Ozil over the years, frustrated with his lack of consistency and performances in the big games. I feel, though, our former defender has got it wrong this week going in hard on the German. As far as I’m concerned how can you criticise someone who hasn’t even played?
To clarify, he’s played an hour in the League, where he assisted the assist, when he was subbed we were leading at Watford, yet he still gets judged harsher than those who have featured every week and equally haven’t pulled up any trees. That’s why it was important he spoke up the last few days. So many have their say on his future he had a right to reply.
For his image it was important he let fans know his hurt of being left out of the squad, that this isn’t a case of someone happy to be paid 350 000 pound a week to stay at home playing on his PlayStation. The fact he remains adamant to see out his contract leaves me to assume that maybe he hopes this time next year he will be working for a new coach, one who values him…
Even after beating Bournemouth there were fans not happy with our style of play, so every time we bemoan a lack of creativity, it’s music to Ozil’s ears. Like Emery though, he’s stopped short of talking about any row. If all parties are insisting there’s been no bust up, we must take that as gospel and therefore how is that the players fault?
While Keown mocked his immune system, he’s only not featuring purely based on our manager’s judgement. It is the Spaniard who thinks we are better suited with 3 DM’s, how’s that Ozil’s fault?
If he wasn’t our highest earner would he be being made an example of? All of this could be a simple tactic to further impress the Kroenke family by lowering the wage bill, just like he did by ending negotiations with Ramsey. As Ozil pointed out, it was the club’s choice to offer him such a lucrative extension. He never lied to them, he made it clear when he put pen to paper, he was seeking to finish his career in North London, not simply stay in the short-term. It’s not his problem that his employers had a change of heart almost immediately, if he had done that, he would have been accused of being disloyal.
Keown’s opinion that he’s let the club down is unfounded, with him clutching at straws by calling out his body language, something that apparently would have gotten him into trouble during Keown’s playing days. Yet the greatest player we ever had, Thierry Henry was famous for the odd shrug of shoulders and hand on hips.
Is it not true that Ozil has simply been used to playing with better talent? Maybe the club let him down by not showing him more ambition? Did the previous regime protect him too much like Keown said?
Or is it as simple as needing creativity, but not playing someone with a record number of assists since arriving in England? Leave the dirty work for whose job it is If we are left on Monday night talking about a lack of creativity again and Ozil has been told not to travel. Blame the man who’s made that decision, not a man who keeps insisting he’s training fine and nothing is wrong with his attitude.
If the team asks for creativity and such an option is sat on his couch, I know who I blame…
Dan