The situation
This isn’t an article wading into the Mesut Ozil ‘flop or not’ debacle that’s been waged between fans, pundits and the media. Stats in football are very relevant, but they can also be dependent on any number of variables. Either way, Mesut Ozil has a pretty respectable assist per game ratio. Granted he’s regarded as one of the better attacking midfielders in World football and his hefty price tag on moving from Real Madrid to Arsenal this summer meant there was always going to be a weight of excitement and in turn, expectation. Perhaps most tellingly (stat wise), looking at Arsenal’s form and the lack of chances created when Ozil was missing through injury for a number of weeks, it’s there in black and white that in general Arsenal area much more offensively creative outfit when the German is out on the pitch.
The Decision
Mesut Ozil is a seriously gifted, unique and influential talent. Many would call the guy a ‘number 10’, a player who controls play between the middle of the park and the final 3rd. The way Arsenal set-up offensively means he’ll (usually) see a lot of the ball, that’s great… You could argue (quite fervently) that to get the best out of Ozil, the midfield would benefit from having a specialist ‘anchor’ type player.
Arsene Wenger likes having Mikel Arteta play that role. The Spaniard can play in that position & always gives his all, but taking a practical approach, going forward, Arsenal surely have to be looking at a higher level player (top class) to add that extra level of steel and class to Arsenal’s engine-room. With a nailed-on midfield lynchpin in the fold, all of a sudden, the likes of Aaron Ramsey & certainly Ozil suddenly have that extra bit of freedom to express themselves creatively.
Adding to the personnel issue, it’s very evident that Arsenal would be very wise to invest in a pacey forward, one who makes intelligent runs etc to give Ozil a ‘runner’ to pick out & create mayhem for opposition defences, almost all Arsenal fans think that’s a fundamental requirement which they hope is rectified over the summer.
So, should Arsenal be looking to ‘build a team’ around the creative juggernaut from Gelsenkirchen (Mesut Ozil)?
The Verdict
It’s a fair point that literally building a team around one specific player can/will make a team predictable & one dimensional. But what does stand to reason is where a team has a player of such unique talents (incredibly accurate passing, intelligent movement etc), you play to their strengths. Inevitably you won’t just get the best out of the said player, but the team will benefit, one hand washes the other, as the saying goes.
With a couple of astute additions over the summer (namely a holding midfielder & pacey/classy striker), there’s very real potential for Ozil to have an absolute field-day in the Premier League. It’s an old adage in football that a ‘player is only as good as the players around him’. In the most literal sense that’s not entirely accurate, but the theory behind that line of thinking almost always rings true.
With any footballer a coach/manager will inevitably look to play to their strengths wherever possible. Sometimes because of various factors (the opposition/specific tactics etc) that’s not always possible. But when a player has a very unique attribute(s), one that if harnessed astutely can give a team a very real edge, it more often than not proves an astute move to go that extra-mile and do what’s necessary to get the very best out of them!
Your Verdict
MkN @Manish_k_n_6 – definetly, with a pacy left winger & striker, Theo Walcott back from injury, a strong CDM behind him, özil will be on fire!
iHeartArsenal @Chilluminatus – Ozil needs players who can run behind the defence, players with pace like Walcott & Ox. He’ll be even better next season.
Keith Mukhram @KEITHMUKHRAM – runners behind the defenders would help Ozil play killer through balls and unlock his undisputed potential at Arsenal.
25 April 2004 @25April2004 – Ofcourse!, with a player of his quality we need runners, I would bring in a winger too, rotate Cazorla.
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