Mesut Ozil admits he’s had ups and downs in his first season at the Emirates but is taking heart from the fact Arsenal can end the season with a first piece of silverware since 2005.
A lynchpin of the Gunners’ title charge until February, the German international was heavily criticised for a drop in form after Christmas before a hamstring injury kept him sidelined for five weeks.
Speaking to homeland publication Bild, the 25-year-old maintained he had nothing to be ashamed, perhaps well aware that he’s notched up an impressive nine assists and five goals in the Premier League:
“I had ups and downs, but I’m satisfied. Arsenal has not won a title in ten years [it’s actually nine Mesut] and next Saturday we can bring home the FA Cup. It would be for me the third cup victory in a third country.”
He also spoke of the pressure he’s endured from certain quarters of the British media, including those who claim he’s been ‘nicking a living’ since signing from Real Madrid.
“No [the criticism doesn’t hurt me], it’s just something that flares up. I have to deal with it. In [the Champions League game in] Munich I was injured after three minutes, but I wanted to continue playing. I’m happy with my first season.”
Elsewhere, Jens Lehmann says he could start coaching as soon as next season. While the ‘Invincible’ hasn’t mentioned Arsenal as a specific target, the madcap former keeper has hinted that a career in England is a possibility.
“It may very well be that after the summer I’m closer to football,” he told Bild. “It’ll probably be with a club and it doesn’t have to be Germany, England may also be a possibility, but as a coach.
“In Germany, people see me more as a sports director. I’ll make a decision in the next six to eight weeks.”
One final piece from Germany’s answer to The Sun…a spurious rumour claiming Arsene Wenger could try and sign Thomas Muller from Bayern Munich. Apparently Manchester United and Liverpool are also interested. We suspect this is utter bollocks; history suggests it’s just an agent playing silly buggers in the hope of securing his client a bigger pay day.
Relax guys, he’s only 25
And he’s fuckin’ magnificent. What a joy it is to watch him amble about in the flesh. A genuine privilege.
[he’s actually 25 Arseblog]
Hopefully with Walcott fit again and the investment into another more versitle striker who looks for the runs in behind defenders, I can see mesut having a great second season. Him and Walcott looked very dangerous on the odd occasion they managed to play together
Ozil also picks up ramseys runs very well whilst an ‘on form’ Jack attracts the opposition and allows Ozil more space to work in. So lots of potential for next year. We just need a few less injuries and another A1 player (or 2).
And in the unlikely event we get a few games from Diaby as well, then we could win the champions League…..or is that a jump too far?
Muller? Nein. Most annoying face ever.
Who gives a shit what he looks like?! The guy can play and if we did get him the team would be stronger as a result. Since when are looks important when it comes to playing football?
Only having a laugh mate. Would love him, quality player.
I’m all for any and nearly all A1 (A+) quality players that we can add to the squad (No Terry, No Cashley, NO PEPE, No Robben, etc.). If Arsenal had one-half the “depth” issues of Bayern, Barcelona, Real Madrid, City, Chelsea, it could bode well for a very doable double or treble next year. We’d have a top quality 11 on the field at all times, in all competitions; w/o worry of fatigue, injury or ridiculous off the field antics. And everyone would be working hard to keep their spots or earn a spot each week for each competition, no?… Read more »
World Cup Golden Boot winner, Young Player of the tournament, Champions League twice-finalist (won it, scored in the other final), and yet another German to add to the Arsenal mannschaft.
Sure you’re being facetious but worth thinking about.
Nice use of ‘facetious’ 😉
Very facetious. Don’t worry I know how good a player he is.
veeery nice bit of punnage there
it’s actually 8 years, won’t be a full 9 years until May 21st 2014…UNLESS 😉
I remembered Thomas Muller being a key figure for Germany in the last World Cup – linking well with Podolski and Ozil. I know it’s agent’s bollocks but it would be excellent news if Arsenal signed him.
But he shouldn’t be our priority.
He’s not going to come cheap and if we have money I’d rather we spend on a good DMF or Striker or even RB (if Bac leaves).
We can think of the luxuries of adding people like Muller once we’re done filling what’s needed.
His price is around özils price. I think we can afford him, the only problem might be his wage. However, we have a lot money to spend and monsieur Wenger said the quaility matters, which means Arteta and Flamini are going to stay for one more season, Diaby is back, so we won’t sign DMF. Müller can play on the wings, secondary striker and centre forward also. He isn’t bad at striker position, but in this case we have to change tactics, because he can’t fight for air balls againts tall defenders. I think he could be a very good… Read more »
Actually Beckenbauer has nothing to say in Munich. He is not working for Munich. Since he resigned in 1996 as a coach he has no official role there.
At the moment he is an so called Sky-TV-Expert (with connections). He also told in Live Television that he would love to see Müller in the PL and that it would suit him well as a fast enduranced player. So possibly in the Future but I doubt that Müller will be playing in the PL next Season.
Oh well. I have to correct myself. Since 2009 he has no official Role there. Before that he was the President of the Club.
“Nicking a living”. What utter shit.
Ozil’s class will shine through next season.
Maybe a cheeky wager on the cards for player of the year. Got a feeling he won’t be far off
Özil is 25 not 26.
The skinny f****** German! The skinny f****** German!
What are you trying to express?
Some reference to a song by Prince I reckon: either its ‘Bob George’ (“Prince that skinny Motehr f***er with high voice) or ‘SMF’ (You Sexy Motherf***er). Pop cultural interpretations of postings in an Arsenal forum. Woe, what has become of me, I wonder.
Whoever we sign just don’t anyone else get their hands on Reus. Especially United. I always felt he is destined for Arsenal and we should snatch him up for whatever money since we have buttloads of money.
But striker and Gustavo/Schneiderlin/Bender should be priority.
I wanted us to sign Gevinho, and that seemed to flop. I want very much that we sign Marco Reus. If we do Im going to cross all my fingers that he pans out.
We must not underestimate hull at all and please Ozil don’t say we ended the drought, we haven’t yet and i don’t want to jinx it. just look at Liverpool they got cocky and acted as though they won the league when they haven’t and underestimated their next opponent. I still remember Birmingham and i swear to god its one of my worst memories and just thinking about it gets me depressed we have to go nuts in the opening and not be defensive prone. Also guys can you stop saying we won the trophy because we haven’t and for… Read more »
Birmingham was fucking awful, but my worst memory is 4-4 against Newcastle. my mum came in at halftime to watch the game with me and started rooting for Newcastle, I still haven’t forgiven her.
A centre back, Bender, Reus/Griezmann, a striker, goalkeeper and a replacement for Sagna. Six players. Would Arsene ever countenance that? Don’t know but hope so. And yeah, Ozil is the bees knees.
Only jealous, bitter journalists would write such Bumbarass nonsense about our Mesut.
Wish he’d smile a bit more though on the pitch though rather than only in sultry Instagram pics
Small skinny geeerman, we’ve got a small skinny geeeeerman!
Nah, can’t see us singing that. Thanks but no thanks Bayern.
Muller would be a great alternative to giroud. Player that I admire certainly. Could also do a job on the right.
Don’t get the desperate desire of some for a DM, surely arteta / Flamini / Wilshere / Ramsey / Diaby are enough?
I agree, however I think we can do better. Arteta is 32, Flamini is 30 and Diaby hasn’t played since 1998. None of them are world class players (don’t get me wrong, I like all three). Ramsey is glorious to watch in a more advanced role, perhaps alongside a quality DM. Someone like Bender, Gustavo, Javi Martinez etc.
Diaby, if fit, is world class. He’s the first name on the France teamsheet.
Wasn’t Arteta in the top 5 DM’s last season? I know he isn’t young but experience coutns for a lot in that position. We can repalce him another year!
I think he and Ramsey formed our best midfield partnership this season.
There are so many germans that would improve our squad. Reus, draxler, kroos, muller, bender. Get any one of them and that would be a really good signing.
Maybe rosicky can give reus a sneaky phone call.
I’m just going to throw it out there that I’d also be chuffed with micah Richards as a replacement for Sagna. Strong in the air, reliable at right back, and more than capable in the centre.
I was thinking this the other day, but “reliable at the back” is a pretty bold statement.
Not sure about adding yet another injury prone player to our already fairly impressive roster.. But if fit, I agree, good signing. Not sure if I’m imagining it but I’m sure before City got rich he was saying to papers about being an Arsenal fan and how he’d like to play for us one day, anyone confirm/ disprove?
Wages might well be an issue with that chap currently being a Citeh player and all.
I think he goes out of contract soon and with being frozen out of the england side might go for us for less.
Boobies.
It’s pretty impressive how much this one word made me laugh. I’m 32, this shouldn’t be happening anymore.
Nicklas bendtering a living
But it’s not some rubbish paper like dailymail or metro, but the “Kicker” which is a very good informed german football magazine. They don’t print any rumors without checking it twice.
oh yeah……she is HOT!
What happened to Julian Draxler?
The media are fatigued with him… they have to make new fish and chip wrappers
If we sign Muller, he wouldn’t be able to score against us…again and again! Like Franny Jeffers…and see how that turned out!
Oh, please. Ozil is criticised in his first season to the same extent Mertesacker was. Neither of them had a bad first season but every mistake they made was pounced upon by the media.
Despite that, Per blew critics out of the water in the following season. Your turn, Ozil.
I really want to hear what Santori aka Pini Zavahi, has to say on our future transfer deals. I must know!
On cue…
I am Pini Zavahi, how did you guess?.:D When you rad any of the media links this summer, just remind yourself that none of the ITKs even got a sniff of the Ozil deal until the very end. And as I mentioned, this sort of deal does not happen over night. 1) It would be remiss of Rm not to already have some fairly sold offer for Ozil before end of window particularly as their intent was to generate some cash to ‘make up’ for the big buy (Bale) in releasing one of their players 2) We were not the… Read more »
A thoughtful and well-reasoned analysis. Well done, sir.
but what about Pato?
That “special relationship” Spurs have with Real Madrid means that Spurs sell their best players to Madrid and Spurs get one of those pigs hanging from the ceiling in the Museo del Jamon on top of the money.
Priorities this summer must be : 1) Striker. Top top quality. Benzema class. 30-40m earmarked IMO but tricky again this summer. 2) RB. We need to ensure the certainty in this position and my pref would be for someone already in the PL with start of the league in mind. If 15m, Seamus Coleman. Otherwise a cheaper option may be Debucchy. 3) CB. We need someone 23-25 with sufficient ready built experience but just coming into good years (Particularly as Per and Koscielny are both 27++). Pref someone with height 6″2 or more. A plus would be if this player… Read more »
I’m not sure Benzema is class, he’s improved this season but if you surrounded me with Ronaldo, Bale, and DiMaria, I’d be banging them in as well.
I’d look for someone who can go past a few players to unlock teams that sit deep, make them break formation. We get nowhere passing the ball sideways around the edge of the area because nobody can (or maybe does not want to) take a player on.
I think Wenger wants a holding midfielder and then he’ll probably do something stupid like play Flamini and Jenks at RB all season.
Maybe Caulker could be a good CB backup. Cardiff was relegated, and he is surely a target for many teams though.
Thumbs up to last two posts.
On a lighter note — this is a good vid of our players responding to moronic tweets:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/VP7k1QkkhZk
That video is priceless, the best part is the comment about Rooney being jealous when the grandma grabs Arteta’s ass
Brilliant!
Wow, Poldi was blasting those shots! Yikes!
aherm, but we haven’t THE Title in ten years.
I can’t help but feel that winning the FA cup will massively improve our chances of signing more golden geese like Özil in the summer. Plus it’ll end that “trophy drought” statement we’ve all read a million times once and for all! COYG!
Ozil is pure class he would grace any team in the world and he’s ours win the cup get the monkey off our backs he is the link to getting other player’s to come to AFC. were it could all go wrong is catch 22 if we dont get players in early then they will shine at the world cup and cost another 5 mill plus and until we are officially in the CL draw players willaybe hold back play off is after world cup so unless wenger concedes he has to splash big cash then same old wait till… Read more »