Although almost every Arsenal fans has already accepted that the Gunners will not be going through to the next stage of the Champions League after losing 5-1 in the first leg away to Bayern Munich, it would be nice for Arsenal to get something out of the return leg at the Emirates tomorrow, if only to build up a bit of the confidence that the hammering in Germany took away.
So on the surface of it the news reported by the Arsenal website about the illness stopping Mesut Ozil from being available is not good, but I think it could be a blessing in disguise.
Wenger said, “He is not in the squad, he only had one session yesterday and he was sick – he was out the whole of last week and I don’t think he is ready physically to be in the squad. He should be okay for the weekend.”
The form that our German playmaker has been showing of late was unlikely to have helped us much against Bayern and so perhaps starting with someone like the Ox who will at least put in the effort would be for the best anyway. I also would have feared that being part of another beating at the hands of Bayern would have done the German international’s fragile confidence no good whatsoever.
Whatever you think of his recent performances you cannot deny that Ozil is one of our best players and for Arsenal to get anything from the rest of the season we could do with him, starting with the FA cup clash at home to Lincoln City on Saturday.
Ozil should be nice and fresh for that match so could his continued illness is a blessing in disguise after all?
Bob.