Arsenal are missing German technique and creativity
A few years ago, “Vorsprung durch Technik” was the familiar and popular tagline of Audi car adverts. The phrase itself roughly translates as “progress through technology” in English. However, “Technik” in German can also be translated as “technique” in English, which gives the phrase a whole new meaning if we’re talking about absent Arsenal star, Mesut Özil.
Parked in the bottom half of the table after nine games, looking at the best English Premier League odds would suggest Arsenal have little chance of challenging for the title. Finishing within the top four, or even the top six, seems a tall order. Despite being pretty tight at the back, the biggest issue during this early stage of the season is finding the back of the net and to do that regularly also requires plenty of chances being created.
Özil was left out of both the Premier League and Europa League squads at the start of the season, despite being one of the most naturally gifted and creatively talented players on the club’s books (not to mention the whopping £350,000-per-week salary). Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta clearly had his reasons, which had little to do with technique or creativity, according to former Gunners player and coach, Freddie Ljungberg.
🗣 “His best option is to leave Arsenal” @Evra & Freddie Ljungberg debate why Mesut Ozil doesn’t play for the Arsenal pic.twitter.com/VkW8JVsbr9
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 22, 2020
Per comments noted by Metro recently, Ljungberg suggested that he wouldn’t have left Özil out of the squad, highlighting the 32-year-old as the kind of player who can change games in an instant. However, the Swedish fan favourite also hinted that he understands why Arteta may have deemed the German as being surplus to requirements.
“He maybe doesn’t have the athleticism now that is demanded in the Premier League,” suggested Ljungberg, indicating that against tougher opponents require physical effort and when Arsenal are chasing possession, “That’s not the game for having Mesut on the pitch.”
“But if you want creativity, his left foot is fantastic,” Ljungberg underlined of the German playmaker. Given that Arsenal have struggled to score goals, that’s a problem that can’t always be pinned on a lack of finishing prowess by attacking players. Those attacking players also need to be constantly supplied with the right kind of ammunition, with chances created that put them in better positions to take aim and score with more confidence.
Mesut Ozil’s Arsenal exile is his own fault, according to former Gunners right-back Lauren 😳
🗣 “First of all, it’s the fault of the player. If you have the quality, if you are not involved week in, week out I believe that is your own fault.” [Sky Sports]
Thoughts? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/V1BPM9vB8A
— Goal (@goal) October 27, 2020
“I believe if you have the quality, if you are a top player, if you are not involved week in, week out I believe that is your own fault,” former Arsenal defender Lauren told Goal, weighing into the Özil debate. He feels that if the player didn’t perform to his capabilities under Unai Emery or Mikel Arteta, it can’t be the fault of either manager. The consistency and the attitude of Özil himself must be called into question.
Should he have a change of heart, Arteta won’t be able to restore Özil to the Premier League squad list until February, once the January transfer and squad registration window ends. The team would certainly benefit from additional creativity of the kind the German is capable of providing, yet it seems his future lies firmly elsewhere.
Unless he can be offloaded in January, with his contract expiring at the end of the season anyway, Özil will be departing at some point. Considering the excitement that greeted the German when he arrived from Real Madrid, once he eventually leaves, Arsenal fans will always be left wondering what might have been, had Özil managed to live up to their expectations and his the undeniable potential he clearly once had.
