Ozil - Do we need him?

[mastermind84]

Cesc doesnt have the legs Ozil has.

The movement Ozil has really helps Alexis a lot. This season for instance, Ozil is not really playing the #10. He is and Alexis are playing as dual false 9s most of the time with Alexis and is often time furthest player forward for Arsenal in front of him on the pass charts and heat maps.

They both need each other but Ozil's play is a big reason for Alexis' form and he has sacrificed a lot of his playmaking to accommodate Alexis. (which is why he is scoring more goals now)

And on top of that, Ozil is the most unique player in world football. You dont replace him. There is no cheap alternative out there. Its literally Ozil and thats it.

Its easy to miss out what Ozil is doing because the English speakiing media inundated with Ray Wilkins types.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

We could still win a big trophy, offer a stack of money and they still decide to leave us. They could sign another contract and agitate for a move after a season like Henry - there's no way of knowing. There is money to consider. Personal career achievements. Personal experience of wanting to play in another country. And family. There are two sides to the negotiation. We could put down he perfect package and it still might not be enough. We're spending on transfer fees like we never thought we would and currently paying wages above what we've expected in recent memory, so I'm really doubtful money will be the deciding factor here at all.

Perhaps, but the chances of that happening are a lot lower than if we weren't to offer a stack of money. And we could at least (legitimately) then claim we tried our hardest and did all we could to keep them.

Unless we're outright insulting in our offers (and honestly I wouldn't put it past Wenger/Gazidis) I do genuinely think there's an inherent bias for them to stay in a place where things are going well for them. A lot of it is massaging their egos and making them feel special. It must be annoying for them seeing filth like Wazza on bigger deals than them whilst their lighting it up week after week so we need to at least offer some kind of parity to that level.

In a hypothetical world, if the only choice we had was to let Wenger go or keep Sanchez/Ozil but not both, which one would you prefer? To me, its the former all day long!

Coming to the real world, I agree with one of the links posted. I'd keep Sanchez over Ozil any time of the day!!

Alexis and it's a no brainer. It's hard but you can find a replacement for Ozil.

There simply isn't an available replacement in world football right now for what Alexis gives to us. But their futures are inexplicably linked to one another and if we lose one, the chances are that the other may decide to go so we HAVE TO KEEP BOTH!

Gazidis and Wenger still seem out of touch. Some of the statements over the summer were unbelievable and we still went about doing our business the usual way. All so last minute and spending a good chunk of money on players that might not even fit in with our style of play. I’m sure they sense that there will be an outcry if we lose Sanchez and Ozil but I also suspect they’ve kicked the media PR machine into 4th gear to deflect the blame away from the club. It’s what we do.

I mean, that story about a Chinese club eyeing up Alexis…maybe it’s just me, but doesn’t that reek of Wenger and the club trying to whip up some invisible phantom force that’s unstoppable? It’s like he what he did with the oil baron clubs with unlimited resources and made us look powerless and vulnerable. Now it’s these Chinese clubs. A story went out earlier in the year where Wenger was warning the Prem about their spending power along. Now he’s in the press saying Alexis won’t go to China. Really? It’s the same tactic we saw with RVP. Slowly but surely, the blame will go on the players for not signing a new deal. Heck, we even saw it recently with Sagna and fans still fell into the trap.

You’re also right about Manure inflating the market. They’re the worst culprits and always have been.

Well the club did also cave in on Theo's demands a few years back probably to stave of a similar revolt and our financial power is a lot better than then, not to mention that Ozil/Alexis are far more important than Theo was so I don't think it's a lost cause just yet to expect Wenger/Gazidis to back down.

And interesting take on the China story. Would have thought it would have been Alexis' people to "leak/make it up" in order to increase the pressure on the club to up their offer.

[mastermind84]

Alexis and it's a no brainer. It's hard but you can find a replacement for Ozil.

There simply isn't an available replacement in world football right now for what Alexis gives to us. But their futures are inexplicably linked to one another and if we lose one, the chances are that the other may decide to go so we HAVE TO KEEP BOTH!

who is a player like Ozil?

You could replace Alexis with Reus or even sign Aubameyang to play CF.

Cesc Fabregas is not Ozil. Madrid never replaced Ozil. Who is that player that fits Ozil's profile in world football?

[fakeyank]

who is a player like Ozil?

You could replace Alexis with Reus or even sign Aubameyang to play CF.

Cesc Fabregas is not Ozil. Madrid never replaced Ozil. Who is that player that fits Ozil's profile in world football?

Madrid won two CL titles after Ozil left. Dont think it is right to say 'they never replaced him'.

[mastermind84]

Madrid won two CL titles after Ozil left. Dont think it is right to say 'they never replaced him'.

They didnt replace him.

They play a different football style now than before with Ozil. They won two CLs with one of the runs being as flukey as United's 2011 run to the CL final.

Ideally we dont have to replace either, but Ozil is probably the greatest player we've had since Henry because of how influential he is for everyone. His appreciation of space is the key to a lot of our attacking play. He is the only player I have ever seen create chances without touching the ball, and is doing that intentionally.

[fakeyank]

They didnt replace him.

They play a different football style now than before with Ozil. They won two CLs with one of the runs being as flukey as United's 2011 run to the CL final.

Ideally we dont have to replace either, but Ozil is probably the greatest player we've had since Henry because of how influential he is for everyone. His appreciation of space is the key to a lot of our attacking play. He is the only player I have ever seen create chances without touching the ball, and is doing that intentionally.

I think its a big statement to call him the greatest player since Henry when he has only been here 3 seasons, one of which he was above average at best (his first season). And yes, ideally we wont have to replace either, but knowing Arsenal, what are the odds we will keep both? If I were forced to put a bet, I'd almost certainly put down a bet on one of them leaving next season.

[mastermind84]

I think its a big statement to call him the greatest player since Henry when he has only been here 3 seasons, one of which he was above average at best (his first season). And yes, ideally we wont have to replace either, but knowing Arsenal, what are the odds we will keep both? If I were forced to put a bet, I'd almost certainly put down a bet on one of them leaving next season.

I feel very confident saying he is better than everyone we have had here since Henry. His first season here, we won the FA Cup. The first trophy of any kind this club has won since 2005.

The guy is a special player.

If Arsenal wants to be an elite club and compete for the top honors, both have to be re-signed. Johnny Taylor said "ITs cheaper to keep her," and in the case of Ozil and Sanchez it is much cheaper to pay them their worth and try and replace them.

[Power n Glory]

They didnt replace him.

They play a different football style now than before with Ozil. They won two CLs with one of the runs being as flukey as United's 2011 run to the CL final.

Ideally we dont have to replace either, but Ozil is probably the greatest player we've had since Henry because of how influential he is for everyone. His appreciation of space is the key to a lot of our attacking play. He is the only player I have ever seen create chances without touching the ball, and is doing that intentionally.

Ozil’s style is too subtle and too dependent on his own team mates being able to exploit the space he creates. It’s why things didn’t work with Giroud and if he were to play for a lower team like West Ham or Southampton, he’d have to be more proactive. Sanchez would be a beast where ever he goes. It helps that he has quality around him, but as seen with Chile, he’ll impose himself on the game.

I disagree with the idea that Sanchez is scoring more because of Ozil. Look at his recent hat trick. Not saying Ozil has no involvement but it’s taking a lot a way from Sanchez. His assists are often overlooked as well. He’d succeed in any Arsenal line up. I’m not sure if that’s the case for Ozil. Also, it’s not as if we haven’t seen this level of football before. In fact, most here would agree that our style is a lot worse than what it was when we had Cesc, RVP, Ade and Rosicky. We’d create so many chances it even had people here convinced Chamakh was a good signing when he scored something like 10 goals in his first few months.

For me, Sanchez is the best player we’ve signed singe Henry. Cesc and RVP after that.

[mastermind84]

Ozil the best player we have had since Henry? Not even close...peak Cesc was better than him, he was blitzing it with assists and goals...

RVP too was better than him or more crucial to the team.

Don't get me wrong Ozil is a very good player and someone who we need to move forward but he's not our best since Henry IMO.

hell no! Not even close, and he wasnt a big match player.

Ozil is Filet Mignon, Cesc is roast beef.

RVP had a great 18 months but was injured the rest of the time.

Ozil’s style is too subtle and too dependent on his own team mates being able to exploit the space he creates. It’s why things didn’t work with Giroud

he damn near set the premier league assists record in the premiership with Giroud last year, so maybe his subtle style actually boosts his teammates production?

And yes, Sanchez is scoring more because of Ozil. THe chances he is getting now are clean as fack because he and Ozil have created a strike partnership. Alexis does not appreciate space at all and will move any and everywhere. If you have him partnering Theo or Giroud, Alexis will be on their toes. Having someone like Ozil to move defenders for him, and anticipate where Alexis will be so that he can move into the vacated space is influential in our attacking play.

I really hope Ozil does not get injured because our attacking play ALWAYS craters when he is out and our team is nowhere near as good. Ozil is a damn alien. You don't replace players like him, you completely change your system. Alexis, you can find replacements. Whether Arsenal can afford to do it is a different conversation, but he can be replaced. Ozil is probably the most unique player on the planet.

and if he were to play for a lower team like West Ham or Southampton, he’d have to be more proactive.

If Ozil played for those teams, his teammates would become more productive.


I have to constantly say this because a lot of posters on this forum do not really get what Ozil does even after all this time, but he makes his teammates perform better. That is his super power. Our eyes are trained to focus in on the guy who is running like mad, scoring goals, or playing no look final balls because its easier to see that. We understand that. Ozil is something completely different. He plays passes to set up chances that are down the line. He creates chances by moving into certain spaces. And he always finds space, which is crazy considering where he receives the ball on the pitch, and he has accurate passes in the most congested area on the pitch. I dont care if that comes across as snobbish and condescending, its just the truth. Its why you have idiots like Ray Wilkins, Robbie Savage, etc saying they dont rate Ozil that highly and that Wilshere could replace him because they have good technique and can pick a pass. The guy is absolutely special. I hope we dont have to make that choice between those two, but if we had to choose between Ozil and Sanchez, its Ozil and its not even close.

[Power n Glory]

Cesc doesnt have the legs Ozil has.

The movement Ozil has really helps Alexis a lot. This season for instance, Ozil is not really playing the #10. He is and Alexis are playing as dual false 9s most of the time with Alexis and is often time furthest player forward for Arsenal in front of him on the pass charts and heat maps.

They both need each other but Ozil's play is a big reason for Alexis' form and he has sacrificed a lot of his playmaking to accommodate Alexis. (which is why he is scoring more goals now)

And on top of that, Ozil is the most unique player in world football. You dont replace him. There is no cheap alternative out there. Its literally Ozil and thats it.

Its easy to miss out what Ozil is doing because the English speakiing media inundated with Ray Wilkins types.

Yep, still stand by Cesc being the better player. Midweek games sum it up.