Mesut Ozil is back in the good books of Arsenal fans following an impressive display against Everton yesterday, and Jack Wilshere is believed to be on his heels in the battle for regular action.
The England international is rebuilding his strength after a number of injury setbacks over the years, but is being heavily talked about at present with his country in dire need of some creative talent, and with his club side also having struggled in recent months.
Wilshere has been impressing in his limited opportunities this term, and there will certainly be no rush in throwing him back into a regular first-team role, but with only eight months remaining on his current contract, a decision needs to be made on his future.
Mesut Ozil is also inside the final year of his contract, and he is believed to be strongly considering whether he wishes to stay at the Emirates beyond his current deal, but with the German coming under intense scrutiny for a number of lazy/uninterested displays, there is a big question mark over his importance.
Martin Keown has had to detract on his previous criticisms following his performance this weekend, although I’m not certain that turning up as rare as he has done this term is going to help him much.
“I’ve been very critical, we’re nine games in and suddenly he’s turned up,” Keown admitted on Match of the Day 2. “He knitted everything together.
“He’s not been closing down. But he has a vision very few players have.
“It was a different head that he played with today. That was a goal with great quality and conviction, he headed it with conviction and I’ve questioned that.”
Ian Wright added that he was ‘desperate’ to see Ozil stay at the club, although he also expects fans to reserve certain judgements on the German until he begins to show that ability against the bigger teams.
“It’s fantastic statistics, as long as he doesn’t do it in the games that people want to do it,” Wright said.
“People will point it at the fact that he doesn’t do it in those games. I’m desperate for him to stay at the club.”
It is of course a blessing to have Mesut in the form he was in this weekend against Everton, but he is tough to handle, and those few rare outings where he is on fire are not consistent enough for me to put him on the pedestal.
I want to say that Jack Wilshere is a more consistent creative threat, but his injuries mean that he isn’t usually available for extended spells in the first-team.
Would you rather see Ozil or Wilshere sign a new contract? When fit, would you choose Jack over the German?
Pat J