Ozil’s absence could bring the best out of the Gunners by SE
Mesut Ozil’s less-than-acceptable performances in Arsenal colours this season haven’t helped the North Londoners’ cause one bit. Barring his brilliant display against Aston Villa – in which he scored and assisted a goal, and looked like the player we’ve come to know – Ozil’s performances have put him under spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The Gunners’ 0-2 defeat to Chelsea was another marquee game – very much akin to Everton and Manchester City clashes – that underlined the 25-year old’s ineptitude to affect the game positively for Arsenal. And, having incurred an ankle injury during the London derby against Mourinho’s men, Ozil finds himself out of action until the turn of the year, at least.
It is those managerial methods that fail to get the best out of players who, even after failing to produce the goods, find themselves unmoved from the starting lineup. Wenger, contrary to his stoic persona, should have taken Ozil out of the firing line or deployed him differently, after he understood that his record signing wasn’t playing up to scratch and Arsenal were experiencing the negative effects of his insipid displays.
Chamberlain, who has been one of the brightest sparks in Arsenal’s cog, has cruelly been deprived of playing time, because Wenger persisted with Ozil. The Englishman has been electric whenever he has played, and I think he could have made that difference Ozil failed to, during his flat displays against Manchester City and Chelsea. But, given Ozil’s prolonged absence, Chamberlain should see plenty of game time, and Arsenal would be hoping that the Englishman can step up to the plate and deliver at this point of the season, which so far has failed to get going.
Ozil’s performances this season have been such that the Gunners have always looked a man light on the pitch. He is definitely not Chelsea’s Oscar, who works hard and isn’t bothered to look clumsy for a No.10; but the German, when he doesn’t give you the cutting edge going forward, can be an infuriating figure on the pitch. Also, with him being out of the side, the pernickety topic of playing a Ozil on the wings would go out of the window, which would subsequently ensure that Arsenal do the basics right.
So, in many ways, Ozil’s negative influence on Arsenal will not be a factor until his return from injury, which hopefully would see him comeback rejuvenated and mentally fresh. Also, when a team suffers a major blow such as this one, it’s not uncommon to see inspiring performances coming from unexpected corners of the squad; in that case, someone like Chamberlain could be the conjurer in rectifying Arsenal’s lackluster start to the season.