Ozil - Do we need him?

[Gubby Allen]

I am not a fan. His crap and ineffective matches outnumber the good ones about 3 to 1, which is never a good sign. Whereas Sanchez is the reverse.

Ozil and Cech both live off of a reputation which I just don't see myself and I wouldn't be starting either of them at the moment. It wouldn't be any great loss to ship them both out along with Walcott and Coquelin and spend the 60 odd million much more wisely.

Not that it would count for shit. Sell them, keep them and play them or keep them and don't play them, we would still finish fourth regardless.

[Niall_Quinn]

Great player, one of the best players in the world and an asset to any team.

However, his performances on the big games away from home always disappoint and the way he ducked out of every single fucking challenge today was infruriating.

Someone who deserves to be recognised as a game changer would have grabbed this game today and turned it around by either scoring a couple or making a real difference. He has failed to turn up today again.

Yes, he's taking an easy ride. Like half the players (or more) in the squad. Doesn't speak well to his character but we can't be losing our genuine world class players just because Wenger won't fuck off. The old goat has stayed on way too long now and he's starting to do serious damage to the prospects of the club, maybe not off the pitch where the money is rolling in, but certainly on it. We stand the risk of Alexis, Ozil, Bellerin, Ox and probably others wanting away from this shit show. Frightening to think of what we might be left with and what sort of players the old crackpot will bring in if he gets another contract.

[Niall_Quinn]

Best player in the PL? When was the last time he was the best player on the pitch?

Easily. Different thing to being the most effective player in the PL, something that changes regularly. Hazard had a shit year last season. I'm betting the chav fans are happy nobody tried to heap Maureen's problems on the Belgian's shoulders and cut their noses off to spite their faces.

[Power n Glory]

Easily. Different thing to being the most effective player in the PL, something that changes regularly. Hazard had a shit year last season. I'm betting the chav fans are happy nobody tried to heap Maureen's problems on the Belgian's shoulders and cut their noses off to spite their faces.

This is his 4th season and not once has he looked close to being player of the season. Heck, the fucker hasn't once won player of the month since being here! This is far from the situation Hazard was in.

[Niall_Quinn]

This is his 4th season and not once has he looked close to being player of the season. Heck, the fucker hasn't once won player of the month since being here! This is far from the situation Hazard was in.

Player of the season, different thing again. As I said, this is a very silly conversation. The idea we vandalise the team just because our manager is shit. What does that get us exactly?

[Power n Glory]

Player of the season, different thing again. As I said, this is a very silly conversation. The idea we vandalise the team just because our manager is shit. What does that get us exactly?

Explain why he deserves to be labelled as the best player in the league if I'm getting it wrong. Is he the best in front of goal, quickest, best dribbler, best at controlling a midfield, best under pressure.....

We have a shit manager and the system he plays can leave people exposed but despite his failings, it doesn't stop quality players like Sanchez and Cazorla from showing their quality. It's the same to how I feel when seeing Cesc, RVP or Rosicky play for us. Heck, same applies to limited players like Coquelin, Giroud, Welbeck, Walcott, Ramsey...etc.

With Ozil, I can't see what's stopping him from imposing himself on the game. We see it with Sanchez, I'd see it with Rosicky and Cesc....Ozil has the ability to dribble out of tight spaces, yet you never see him use those attributes in the same way you'd see Cazorla do it. Has the ability to pass but rarely see him pull off an amazing pass like we'd often see from Cesc, even at speed he's able to dribble but you'll hardly ever see him do what Hazard did to us today.....

Wenger has to go for sure and he's not helping the situation. Even though I think Wenger has to be the first to go, if we were to get a new manager, I can't see them using Ozil as a number 10. If he churns out a fraction of the performances he has for us, he'll be out on his ear.

[Power n Glory]

Look at the speed and dribbling ability. This is what I don't get, how is a player with this sort of speed and dribbling ability getting away with 0/1 successful takes ons? 1 attempt to dribble past a player! 1 unsuccessful attempt. Petr Cech and Mustafi were 1/1 for take ons for fucks sakes. Coquelin 2/2. Ox 4/4. Sanchez 5/7.

It's not just the one game either. Ozil will often attempt 1 or 2 dribble attempts per game. A guy of this sort of ability! It's not enough and he's coasting. The epitome of pass, pass, pass.

[Niall_Quinn]

Look at the speed and dribbling ability. This is what I don't get, how is a player with this sort of speed and dribbling ability getting away with 0/1 successful takes ons? 1 attempt to dribble past a player! 1 unsuccessful attempt. Petr Cech and Mustafi were 1/1 for take ons for fucks sakes. Coquelin 2/2. Ox 4/4. Sanchez 5/7.

It's not just the one game either. Ozil will often attempt 1 or 2 dribble attempts per game. A guy of this sort of ability! It's not enough and he's coasting. The epitome of pass, pass, pass.

There are two realistic possibilities and both of them are the fault of one man.

1. Wenger has changed Ozil's game, very much for the worse.
2. Ozil has realised you don't need to turn up or make an effort to get into the first team at Arsenal. It's not actually true he doesn't turn up or make an effort, that's just a media narrative that started almost the day he arrived with the stupid #stealingaliving tag that somehow has never been applied to Raheem Sterling, for example (and you won't find a more worthy candidate in football). Ozil runs more yards a game than most, makes more passes a game than most and gets involved more than most. But his effectiveness has been badly blunted this season and the question is why.

For me the answer is very, very obvious.

[Power n Glory]

It's option 2. He's lazy. Despite the amount of times Ox and Sanchez try to dribble and lose the ball, it doesn't stop them from trying. Hence why I have a problem with Ozil. Yes, he's stealing a leaving.

[Niall_Quinn]

It's option 2. He's lazy. Despite the amount of times Ox and Sanchez try to dribble and lose the ball, it doesn't stop them from trying. Hence why I have a problem with Ozil. Yes, he's stealing a leaving.

Only problem is, the numbers tell us he's one of the hardest working players in the squad.