Maybe the fact that the Arsenal and Germany international star Mesut Ozil has still not put pen to paper on a new contract to keep him in north London past next summer is causing Arsene Wenger to tread carefully around his talented but sometimes frustrating number 11, but if Ozil is happy at Arsenal as we have heard I am not sure the boss should be so easy on him.
And let’s be honest, Arsenal fans, this idea that Wenger is too easy on his players when they do not perform as we want and need them to is an old and long running theme at the club, but did the Frenchman have a point when he reacted to the criticism of Ozil from Steven Gerrard and former Gunner Martin Keown?
The former Liverpool midfielder admitted that Ozil can be a real world class player but when Arsenal play away he does not do enough, especially when the Gunners do not have the ball, calling the German a liability and suggesting it is like playing with a man down.
Wenger responded, “I think he did fight.
“It is difficult to single anybody out. I believe we had many, many chances and personally I don’t think he deserves [criticism].”
Does he really believe that do you think? If so is he right? I do have some sympathy as Ozil was one of the few players who looked like they might break the Stoke defence and chasing back and tackling is not his strong point. Or do you think Wenger was also frustrated by his star and will deal with it behind closed doors?
I do think that Ozil is an easy target for the pundits because of the oft repeated thing about his body language, while stats often show him covering more ground than most. What do you think Gooners?
Bob.