Mesut Ozil has claimed that he is unfairly singled out and blamed when things begin to go wrong at Arsenal.
The German international made his return from injury whilst away on international duty at the weekend, playing the majority of the second-half in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Azerbaijan, before talking to the press about his current situation in North London.
The midfielder admitted that he is unhappy that he is targeted for criticism whenever the Gunners endure a bad run of form, and is ‘singled out’ by fans and pundits alike, before revealing his happiest moment with Arsenal.
Ozil was also asked whether he still has any attachment to former side Real Madrid, which is of course being spun into him wanting to return, a move which appears unlikely whether he wishes to or not.
He said: “When the team’s on a bad run, somebody needs to be singled out, sadly most of the time it’s me.”
He added: “You know what made me proud? The first day the Arsenal fans sang the Ozil song.
“I’ve never experienced anything like it at any other club. It gives me goose bumps every time the fans sing that song.”
The 28 year-old was then asked about his feelings toward former club Real, to which he replied: “Of course my heart beats for Real. I played there and still have many friends to this day in the team and in the club. Therefore I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Real, even against Bayern.”
Are many fans and pundits quick to turn on Ozil? Does he get more stick than is deserved? Could he find himself leaving the club this summer also?
Pat J
Reason hes slagged off is because with the entire team seaming slow and not putting it in makes people look to him to get us going but when he cant which is most the time hes crap.
But if our wingers actually made runs in behind or someone did he would have people to hit but the dam tactics of playing outside the box is whats killing us we need more direct attacks for the best to seen of ozil.
Agree 100%!
We’ve brought in xhaka who’s strongest attribute is his ablility to either play through/over the lines… But our forwards movements are soooo predictable.
IMO, Theo, Giroud and Ozil seem the only ones willing to unselfishly draw opponents out of shape without the ball at their feet.
I wholeheartedly believe that there are certain building blocks in place for a great squad and we can still build around Ozil. But he’s a pure playmaker… and if there’s no movement or forwards running for him, or trying to create channels for others then his weaknesses will be far more apparent than his strengths
A good playmaker should be able to dictate the tempo of his team. Ozil can see chances and is a very unselfish player (prefer to assist than scoring himself), but he cannot control the team’s flow and tempo. His position in our system requires someone with exceptional ball control, vision and passing abilities. If we have to call him a playmaker, then his level is way below other world class playmakers like Cazorla, Zidane, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Modric. He had better move to another team with different system to save his career. I think Madrid, Bayern, Dortmund or Leicester City is more suitable for him.
Ozil creates more chances than they do bar Messi, and Messi does not dictate tempo at all…
To follow that just for interest how many times do utd city liverpool full backs wip the ball in the box and how many times do ours turn back. Simples.
They actually have Martial, Mata and Mkhitarian working hard to give them space to do so… not just hanging in support to work it all the way back to our midfielders then start again 🙁
Nah we reach the flanks then bellerin kicks it backwards instead of crossing. Sometimes monreal crosses but he to kicks the ball backwards instead of crossing. But the main issue is if sanchez plays up top then the crossing becomes a liability but interestingly we cross more when he is the striker. And when giroud comes on hehe you wonder where all the crosses went to
He also likes to kick it out of play for an opposition goal kick or throw in
Ozil will always be a scapegoat and the reason is he is the most expensive player in our team. We as fans expect alot of things from him. So its his price tag that made him a scape goat same way pogba is a scape goat for man u till he started showing some class
The last era of Arsene Wenger got a name this year. Bant era.
I think Ozil is a liability in the current Arsenal system. But he would be a great addition to other teams with different system, like Madrid, Bayern, Dortmund or Leicester City. I think Ozil will move next season. If he moves to Bayern or Dortmund, I think we will see him perform much better than what he did in Arsenal. Remember how different Ozil, Ramsey and Giroud perform for their national football teams. They are talented, but they are not Sanchez, Ronaldo or Messi. They need a suitable system to perform well.