Former Tottenham forward Garth Crooks has taken aim at certain “soothsayers” in the press over suggestions Mesut Ozil could leave Arsenal.
Ozil has had a troubled six months. Following Germany’s group-stage exit from the World Cup, the playmaker retired from international football, citing racism as the primary cause.
How Ozil went from signing a new big-money Arsenal deal to being linked with a move away:
- Ozil was made Arsenal’s best-paid player on 1 February this year with a new contract worth a reported £350k per week.
- But since then he has started 16 of a possible 30 league games while assisting just twice.
- New manager Unai Emery has on more than one occasion left Ozil out of Arsenal’s squad altogether for “tactical reasons”.
- Ex-players have suggested Arsenal were wrong to award Ozil his bumper contract at the expense of others such as Aaron Ramsey, whose deal expires next summer.
- Emery, however, has insisted Arsenal ‘need’ Ozil, praising his ‘commitment and quality’.
Ozil’s troubles with Germany followed him to north London this season amid criticisms of his attitude from commentators.
It also seemed he had fallen out of favour with new boss Emery, contributing to speculation the Premier League’s fastest player to reach 50 assists would be loaned out by Arsenal in January.
Emery denied such claims before the win over Burnley on Saturday while finally stating publicly that Ozil remains part of his plans, and BBC analyst Crooks does not understand why anyone would suggest the Spaniard would move him on.
“All these media soothsayers who insist Ozil might be surplus to Unai Emery’s requirements must be mad. Why would Emery allow his only world-class midfield player to leave the club?” Crooks told the BBC.
“No, Emery is much smarter than that. The manager may want a little more sweat from the former Germany international but as long as he keeps producing defence-splitting passes amid the rest of their midfield hectic mediocrity, Ozil is a must for Arsenal.”
Ozil’s subtle influence within the Arsenal dressing room revealed
Cristiano Ronaldo on Mesut Özil in 2013: "He was the player who best knew my moves in front of goal… I’m angry about Ozil leaving.”
Özil on Ronaldo in September 2018: "I really enjoyed playing with him because he made me better on the pitch… I gave him loads of assists."
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 21, 2018
Emery has frequently denied falling out with Ozil and maintains that the German is still key to his plans going forward this season, despite previously leaving him out of the squad altogether for “tactical reasons”.
Ozil returned to the Gunners’ starting XI against Burnley, captaining the side to a 3-1 win at the Emirates after their defeat in the Carabao Cup to rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Despite the playmaker’s return to the first team, there remains those who question Emery’s decision to give him the armband. But speaking after Arsenal’s victory, Ozil’s teammate Sead Kolasinac explained why he’s still highly regarded in the Gunners’ dressing room.
“Mesut’s not the sort of player who will scream at you in public just to show the people on the outside that he tries to push us on,” Kolasinac told reporters.
“He’ll speak in the dressing room, he’ll go to every player individually. With his quality, he brings a lot to this team. He’s very important for us as a captain and as a player.”
Arsenal next play Brighton on Boxing Day.
The post “Unai Emery is too smart to let his only world-class midfielder leave Arsenal” appeared first on Squawka News.
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