This week, Arsene Wenger celebrated his 23rd anniversary of his first game as Arsenal manager. During his 22 years in charge in North London, no player has been as debated, discussed and divided opinion like his signing of Mesut Özil 2013.
Most Arsenal fans remember where they were in early September as the window ticked down. We'd beaten Spurs and their shiny new players 1-0, and Wenger had promised us a "surprise". He delivered. The superstar signing from Real Madrid, 42.4 million pounds, smashing the previous record for Andrei Arshavin. His impact was as expected; the perfect link player between the energetic, technical midfielders of Cazorla, Wilshere and Ramsey, and the big target man Olivier Giroud.
As was seemingly the norm for Mesut Özil, trophies followed. Three FA Cups in four years to be precise, which was kickstarted by ending the famous nine year drought and winning the World Cup with Germany.
However, it was 2015/2016 that was the height of his quality and yet the peak of people's frustration. Assist records after records as Arsenal looked like ending their wait for a league title. However, as Arsenal's season imploded post February, so did Ozil's. No more assists and the desperate lack of impact in big games that has been the downfall of his career.
2018 was a huge year in Mesut Ozil's Arsenal career. January saw him sign a new contract, showing the loyalty to the club that had deserted Alexis Sanchez. However it came at a price. A massive price too, £350k a week to be precise. This adding even more scrutiny to the dwindling performances of the Arsenal number 10.
Then in May 2018, Mesut's footballing father departed. Wenger had given him more support and more freedom - and more protection than anyone else, and it was time for change. In came Unai Emery, a coach who had a philosophy based around attacking players pressing high and working hard, traits hardly synonymous with our mercurial German.
A testing first season, where Özil was still named as a captain by Emery ended in disappointment. Talk of a move was quiet due to Ozil's large wage demands, and Mesut stayed.
This season has been a disaster, as Emery has shown he is not a manager to pander to big egos, reputations or wages. It's difficult to see a way back for Özil now, but should we be more accepting of this? 31 years old, his best years are certainly behind him. As it has been noted, the young players at Arsenal now are the most talented in years, and midfield is a particularly fine vintage. Joe Willock, Buyako Saka, Dani Ceballos, Matteo Guendouzi and the new record signing Nicholas Pepe are all least seven years younger than Òzil.
Mesut Özil has been one of the best players of the Emirates era. He was letdown by poor finishing in his star season yet has delivered more often than not in his time at Arsenal. However, his time at Arsenal is coming to an end, and it's time to enjoy what we have seen, but now begin to focus on the future. Something that whether people like it or not, Mesut Özil is unlikely to be part of.
Up the Arsenal.
@joehurd16
Most Arsenal fans remember where they were in early September as the window ticked down. We'd beaten Spurs and their shiny new players 1-0, and Wenger had promised us a "surprise". He delivered. The superstar signing from Real Madrid, 42.4 million pounds, smashing the previous record for Andrei Arshavin. His impact was as expected; the perfect link player between the energetic, technical midfielders of Cazorla, Wilshere and Ramsey, and the big target man Olivier Giroud.
As was seemingly the norm for Mesut Özil, trophies followed. Three FA Cups in four years to be precise, which was kickstarted by ending the famous nine year drought and winning the World Cup with Germany.
However, it was 2015/2016 that was the height of his quality and yet the peak of people's frustration. Assist records after records as Arsenal looked like ending their wait for a league title. However, as Arsenal's season imploded post February, so did Ozil's. No more assists and the desperate lack of impact in big games that has been the downfall of his career.
2018 was a huge year in Mesut Ozil's Arsenal career. January saw him sign a new contract, showing the loyalty to the club that had deserted Alexis Sanchez. However it came at a price. A massive price too, £350k a week to be precise. This adding even more scrutiny to the dwindling performances of the Arsenal number 10.
Then in May 2018, Mesut's footballing father departed. Wenger had given him more support and more freedom - and more protection than anyone else, and it was time for change. In came Unai Emery, a coach who had a philosophy based around attacking players pressing high and working hard, traits hardly synonymous with our mercurial German.
A testing first season, where Özil was still named as a captain by Emery ended in disappointment. Talk of a move was quiet due to Ozil's large wage demands, and Mesut stayed.
This season has been a disaster, as Emery has shown he is not a manager to pander to big egos, reputations or wages. It's difficult to see a way back for Özil now, but should we be more accepting of this? 31 years old, his best years are certainly behind him. As it has been noted, the young players at Arsenal now are the most talented in years, and midfield is a particularly fine vintage. Joe Willock, Buyako Saka, Dani Ceballos, Matteo Guendouzi and the new record signing Nicholas Pepe are all least seven years younger than Òzil.
Mesut Özil has been one of the best players of the Emirates era. He was letdown by poor finishing in his star season yet has delivered more often than not in his time at Arsenal. However, his time at Arsenal is coming to an end, and it's time to enjoy what we have seen, but now begin to focus on the future. Something that whether people like it or not, Mesut Özil is unlikely to be part of.
Up the Arsenal.
@joehurd16
Good writeup!
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