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Mesut Ozil’s Arsenal career has been filled with misconceptions, scapegoating and misdirected anger. The World Cup winner has faced the brunt of fan fury, with many blaming him for the club’s inability to compete in big games.
Of course when you’re the highest-paid player in North London, much negative attention will be drawn to you, but most of it has been unwarranted.
It’s rumoured that DC United are interested in signing the German and that they want a deal sooner rather than later. For Ozil, the move could be good as he’d have the chance to expand his brand worldwide. But for Arsenal, it would be a mistake.
Here are three reasons why Arsenal shouldn’t sell Mesut Ozil.
#3 Promising signs under Mikel Arteta
Under Unai Emery, Mesut Ozil was rarely getting into the matchday squad. But under Mikel Arteta, the German has been made the focal point of the attack.
Not only does Ozil now look happier on the pitch, but the 31-year-old is also starting to have more impact on the attacking phases of play. The Spaniard has instructed the 31-year-old to drift into wide areas during the transition. This allows him to pick up the ball in space, with a clear view of the attacking options ahead of him.
Off the ball, Ozil has shown a side of his that not many thought he had. He’s been pressing mercilessly, as he has clearly bought into Arteta’s philosophy.
It’d be criminal to sell a player you’ve been trying to get the best out of for so long as soon as he starts to show signs of his former genius. Arteta and Ozil were teammates a few years ago, and that’s why the Spaniard seems to know how to squeeze the best out of him.
#2 Still a major pull
It would be unwise to underestimate how much of a marquee name Mesut Ozil still is in world football. The 31-year-old has a World Cup medal to his name alongside several domestic titles in Spain. Lest we forget, he was part of a star-studded Madrid side that elevated his status to new heights.
As a team that hasn’t played Champions League football for three seasons, Arsenal need as many pulling factors as possible. Of course they’re situated in London and are a Premier League club, but that doesn’t hold as much weight anymore considering how much money the other clubs in the league are now generating.
On Instagram, the former German international has 5 million followers more than the club’s account. That’s not a jibe at Arsenal, but a testament to Ozil’s worldwide fame.
Many a young player has grown up watching the playmaker in his prime and idolised his style of play. The opportunity to play in the same team as him would be a major pull to many world-class talents across the world.
#1 Arsenal’s only source of creativity
If Arsenal sell Mesut Ozil, who else will create chances? Arsenal’s squad depth is already poor in several departments, but none so more than at CAM.
Currently, there’s no one at the club of the required standard to replace the German in that position. If Arteta wants an attacking midfielder, the club will have to go out and buy one and in this market, such a scarce resource would cost in excess of £40m.
Right now, Arsenal’s main source of chance creation is to give the ball to Ozil and hope he quickly finds an attacking player. Under Emery the style of play was to create chances through cutbacks from the full-backs, but Arteta is not so dependent on that tactic.
Although the German has not had the best of seasons in terms of goals and assists, he has still created 15 chances in the past 7 games under Arteta. The 31-year-old has averaged 2.1 chances a game this season, almost double that of the next player Nicolas Pepe (1.2).
Since arriving in England, Ozil has directly contributed to 85 goals in 180 apps, whilst averaging 61 passes a game. Where else will Arsenal find such creativity?
