Well, it's
a dreadful situation for Arsenal since the 22 game unbeaten run ended. Huge
loss at Anfield exposed our thinning options defensively along with strange
decisions in team selection made by Unai Emery; concerning Ozil mainly.
Clearly,
the tactical excuse Emery gives out whenever Ozil isn't picked in games or
strangely substituted (e.g. Away at Brighton) tells only one thing.
Our head
coach doesn't know how to manage the club's biggest player. A deja vu feeling
if we time travel to last season in Paris where Neymar. Jr and Emery had
similar problems at PSG.
To be
honest, Ozil could have left Arsenal last January or before this season for
free but he stayed to follow the legacy of his Invincible role models.
However,
bad fortunes followed him as Germany crashed out of the WC '18's 1st round. And
ironically despite being their best player even statistically, he ended up
getting the most stick from pundits and media.
Things got
way too intense as he surprisingly retired from international scene, citing
discrimination and severe pressure surrounding his controversial pre world cup
meeting with Turkish PM Erdogan.
Regardless,
his club team-mates stood by him with support and confidence as pre-season
approached along with praise from Emery himself which seems to have lost in the
latter's words when he has been asked about Ozil lately.
The most
important player at Arsenal, one of the five chosen captains by Emery himself,
is being sidelined from the starting.line-up. Even Wenger hadn't been that way
with Bergkamp in the latter's final season.
It's sad
and sounds stupid when Emery defines Ozil's omission from the team as tactical.
What tactical reason could it be to keep the player who's created the most
chances across the Europe's Top five leagues since July 2006?
It felt
very senseless to see Iwobi start ahead of Ozil yesterday even after he was
fully fit and trained with full throttle. And to what gain, losing to West Ham
whom we defeated comfortably at home.
As if it
wasn't enough to let Wilshere leave early for West Ham and now allowing Ramsey
to go as well for free, what could possibly be gained from putting down Ozil
when Arsenal need him the most?!
Not having the highest earning playmaker in
your starting 11? Board may give Emery a thumping for it though as if Stan
would care.
If anything
that is to be learned from one season as PSG's boss, Emery should not repeat
the same mistakes with the former German play-maker as he did while handling
Neymar Jr. More in fact, Ozil is far more humble and has better attitude than
the Brazilian star.
So watch
out, Emery! Fans may fly out banners really soon if Ozil isn't in the starting
line up going forward as United is on our trail and the tactical omission of
German is not doing good for anyone.
