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Mesut Özil did not fail Arsenal. The club failed him. A Thread.
T’is a day which still lives in infamy— 2 September of 2013—the day that the Gunners were supposed to start challenging for prestigious silverware once again.
The Gunners pulled off a masterful coup, bringing one of the best players in the world to the club. Mesut Özil signed.
The Gunners pulled off a masterful coup, bringing one of the best players in the world to the club. Mesut Özil signed.
Arsene Wenger convinced the 24-year-old entering the prime of his career that Arsenal was the place to be. The long-serving manager and the ambitious hierarchy were serious about doing all they could to get back to the club’s very best.
Or so the Gooners and Özil thought.
Or so the Gooners and Özil thought.
In Özil’s first season we finished 4th again but won the FA cup—trophy drought broken!
League-wise the Gunners actually managed six points more than 2012 and also conceded the fewest goals (27)
In attack, Özil bagged 7 goals and 14 assists throughout all comps (42 apps.)
League-wise the Gunners actually managed six points more than 2012 and also conceded the fewest goals (27)
In attack, Özil bagged 7 goals and 14 assists throughout all comps (42 apps.)
It was clear that the German’s first season was a transitional one—he looked decent enough but wasn’t quite up to his typical, world class standards.
Most supporters, including myself, believed the then 25-year-old would benefit from the “ambitious” board making some signings.
Most supporters, including myself, believed the then 25-year-old would benefit from the “ambitious” board making some signings.
The side needed to build around the assist machine. And in fairness, the 2014/2015 transfer window was actually quite a solid one... On paper.
Alexis Sanchez came in after falling out of favor at Barcelona along with Chambers, Welbeck, Gabriel, Debuchy, Ospina and Bielik.
Alexis Sanchez came in after falling out of favor at Barcelona along with Chambers, Welbeck, Gabriel, Debuchy, Ospina and Bielik.
Arsenal jumped to third but only accumulated a season tally of 75–four points less than the previous.
Özil didn’t kick on in his second campaign with the Gunners. He suffered a ruptured knee ligament that took him out from mid-October to mid-January. Hope remained.
Özil didn’t kick on in his second campaign with the Gunners. He suffered a ruptured knee ligament that took him out from mid-October to mid-January. Hope remained.
With the season Wenger’s men had, questions were asked—good ones. “How good would this team have been with the German artist?”
Alexis Sanchez showed his quality managing 25 goals and 12 assists in all comps. He was the polar opposite of Özil—industrious and gritty as they come.
Alexis Sanchez showed his quality managing 25 goals and 12 assists in all comps. He was the polar opposite of Özil—industrious and gritty as they come.
With the Chilean and German together the Gunners could have genuinely won the Premier League title in the 2015/2016 season, if two more additions came.
Despite the two assets needed the board failed catastrophically. They only brought in Petr Cech and a sub, Mohammed ElNeny.
Despite the two assets needed the board failed catastrophically. They only brought in Petr Cech and a sub, Mohammed ElNeny.
It was at this point that the club failed the former record signing.
The Gunners managed 71 points—four points fewer than their previous tally—10 points fewer than the unlikely champions, Leicester City.
@AlfieCulshaw stated for @wlyablog that Giroud was not at fault.. (1/2)
The Gunners managed 71 points—four points fewer than their previous tally—10 points fewer than the unlikely champions, Leicester City.
@AlfieCulshaw stated for @wlyablog that Giroud was not at fault.. (1/2)
for Özil narrowly missing out on the assists record as the Frenchman outperformed his xG. That is a notion I firmly agree with.
If the club had brought in a striker better than Giroud and Welbeck, the Gunners could have, should have and would have pipped the Foxes to glory.
If the club had brought in a striker better than Giroud and Welbeck, the Gunners could have, should have and would have pipped the Foxes to glory.
The hierarchy and Wenger failed Özil in that season. I genuinely believe the man who is now an outcast could have been one of the greatest players to ever wear the red and white if the board had surrounded him with quality then.
A sturdy DM and top striker was all it took.
A sturdy DM and top striker was all it took.
However, Özil did not receive the help in which he deserved and needed—the club tried to accommodate his needs and failed miserably.
Mustafi and Perez at CB and striker were abysmal failures. Choosing Xhaka ahead of the ever-incredible Kante was impressively ignorant.
Mustafi and Perez at CB and striker were abysmal failures. Choosing Xhaka ahead of the ever-incredible Kante was impressively ignorant.
The Gunners managed an impressive point-total of 75 but they missed out on Champions League football—a competition we have not been a part of since.
Xhaka turned out to to a deep-lying creator and not a DM, providing Özil no foundation to play from. Mustafi and Perez failed.
Xhaka turned out to to a deep-lying creator and not a DM, providing Özil no foundation to play from. Mustafi and Perez failed.
From that point on, Özil’s time at Arsenal wore worse and worse. His number of appearances depreciated and as did the players quality when he was given game time.
Wenger was sacked/left and Unai Emery came and went. The Spaniard tried but failed in getting the best out of him.
Wenger was sacked/left and Unai Emery came and went. The Spaniard tried but failed in getting the best out of him.
Emery exiled Özil and then brought him back losing himself all authority he had over the squad.
The interim coach Freddie came in, played youth every game, ignoring Özil. And then Arteta came in. Arteta tried to give him a chance but then ostracized the German harder than ever.
The interim coach Freddie came in, played youth every game, ignoring Özil. And then Arteta came in. Arteta tried to give him a chance but then ostracized the German harder than ever.
It’s not Arteta’s fault. It’s not Özil’s either. Arsenal has been run in a pathetic manner for years and years and signing such a luxury player without providing the help he needs was a waste of money and more importantly, a waste of an artists prime years and talent.
By the time Arteta came in Özil’s physical capabilities had diminished so much that he was essentially a lost cause in England. The physicality of the division and the evolving game is just too much.
While he has a copious amount of talent he can’t keep up in top divisions.
While he has a copious amount of talent he can’t keep up in top divisions.
Despite his physical depreciation and age, the king of assists will go to a slower division and shine once again.
The board wasted he, his prime years and his talents. Who knows what could have been if Özil had a robust anchor behind him and top-class striker ahead of him?
The board wasted he, his prime years and his talents. Who knows what could have been if Özil had a robust anchor behind him and top-class striker ahead of him?
The cult-hero, legend or whatever you want to call him will long be remembered as an Arsenal great, but it also mustn’t be forgotten how badly the board failed him.
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