Mesut Ozil says he’s confident that Arsenal can go the distance in the Premier League this season, saying the summer transfer business and FA Cup win has given the team the confidence to win the biggest prize in English football.
The German international, in a wide-ranging interview with the Telegraph, told Henry Winter, “I’m looking forward to meeting the challenges here, meeting the targets. Of course Arsenal can win the Premier League.
“We’ve strengthened our squad. We have a very united spirit; we don’t have to hide from any team, especially at the Emirates Stadium where we can impose our game on the opposition.
“It is important to remember that we won the FA Cup and that’s given us a lot of confidence. We have trust in each other as a team.”
The World Cup winner admitted he wasn’t always on the top of his game in his first season in England, but also picked out the existing talents at the club he feels can make a big impact, and hinted he’s looking forward to the return of Theo Walcott.
“What Jack Wilshere definitely has is big potential. If he stays fit, he has a big future because he has a lot of quality,” he said.
“Theo is a big player at this club. Theo is a player you can send clear because he is so quick and has a very good final product. Ramsey is really important for Arsenal, really impressive, great on the ball. We can achieve something big this season.”
He also touched on the issue of criticism surrounding his game, something which seems hard to shake right now, and his favourite position, but to find out what he said about that, read the full interview in the Telegraph.
Yes we can Mesut !!
COYG !!
Hoping for a big season from Ozil and prove AW in passing over Cesc
He must have some inside info on the striker we are about to sign….
Gooners , why are chelsea fav and we are not..plz tell me !
Cause they beat us 6-0 last time we met?
You had a down vote, but I agree. It’s up to us to set it straight!
but we didn’t have Ramsey. Makes all the difference!
If the only difference between us beating Chelsea and losing 6-0 to them is Aaron Ramsey, then there’s something seriously fucked up at Arsenal.
Not saying he guarantees wins; the team plays better with him in the midfield. if anything the game wouldn’t have been an embarrassment.
Wait a second here….what the hell does us losing to Chelsea last year have to do with what might happen this year? Year before that we beat them 5-2 and I don’t remember that game being a “factor” in last year’s title race!
Sports don’t follow some kind of script or something, we’ll all get to see how this all unfolds this season…
Because they have a better squad than we do. Not hugely better, so we do have a chance, but definitely better.
Because they are a far, far better team than we are at the moment. the match against everton should give u a hint.
Some really interesting quotes. He’s refreshingly honest.
I think most of the criticism comes because he isn’t what everyone wants him to be. He’s just himself. He’s a throwback. No big celebrations, not flashy, just goes about his business and quietly creates chance after chance. He’s 25 and has won almost everything. If he played in a different era (without the 24/7 news/twitter cycle) I think he’d be perceived much differently.
I’m just glad he plays for Arsenal. And he and Alexis will complement each other well after a few games to figure things out.
I still can’t believe Mesut Ozil is a gunner. I hope this season will be his.
Ya Gunna Yaaarr
I think he’d be better off on the right wing cutting in with his left foot. Does anyone think Walcott could play on the left wing, he’s our best runner.
Not without a few more players we can’t.
But keep doing what you’re doing, Mesut. You might not always set the world on fire but I’m always happy to see you on the pitch.
Its not his job to set the world on fire, he only provides the petrol
Spot on
I believe he’ll produce great this year and that we can realistically win the title.
BUT… IF he takes a PK like he did vs Bayern again, I will lose my flipping mind. That stupid s**t is reserved for Messi and only Messi.
Mesut Özil… pure class.
Great article.
Also just watched Arsène’s post (Besiktas) match interview on arsenal player.
I bloody love that man!
The only reason why we lost it last season is because of Ox, Ramsey, wallcott and Özil missing for long spells we have added Sanchez and improved on players sold/left so why can’t we win the Premiership??
Mesut, if you find your A game this season then we have a good chance. COYG!
Yes Mesut that’s the spirit. So want to win the league and finish above that prick Maureen that couldn’t resist yet another dig at us today. COYG!!!!!
Maureen needs to look at his own classless football club before commenting on us. I’ve noticed that Torres has been loaned to Milan for 2 years, and coincidentally he had 2 years left on his contract. So basically the chavs are trying hide the fact they have given a free transfer to their record £50m signing. Cunts!
Maureen-Yo, Is playing FIFA 14 in real life, that’s all. He’s balancing the books. He has hypocritically criticized Man City for their financial shenanigans. Yet, he’s working every trick that he can to keep from getting himself and Chelsea in trouble. What is really amazing to me is that no one questions him about the quality of Arsenal through these eight lean years “of failure”. No one challenges him as to how well he thinks he could have handled that situation. And, not many people laud Arsene for the incredible job that he did. Yeh, I know that it was… Read more »
If you look at the Besiktas game, Özil played a pass the took out 7 Besiktas defenders, and allowed Sanchez to score. Nuf said. The man will come good this season. Just wait till Sanchez beds in. With Theo coming in as well, we have incredible ammunition upfront.
Look at the invincibles side. Did they have a target man? No. They managed to pretty well, didn’t they?
Keep the faith lads. #COYG
I have faith in Özil to give us a good season. He’s the best CAM we have and if he can increase his scoring average then he may be able to silence those unbearable critics. However, as long as he keeps his assists up then I’m happy with him.
I think he is true worth would be apparent when theo and alexis is on song. It would be a treat to watch even for opposition fans.
I loved that Besiktas assist, as in 1 pass, he set up Alexis and Jack! Only Ozil can set up 2 at once.
Just read the full article and it is a great interview with a fantastic player. He’s admitted he doesn’t like playing on the left side as it restricts his game and wants to be no 10. Am sure he’ll be back to that position soon and be feeding Alexis assist after assist. And I really hate it when he does get criticized when you know he is not laying in his natural position!!
Even we bring in Falcao, Calvarho,Zigic and all the players metro and bleachers signed for us, I still strongly believe that the title challenge right now rests on the form of our current players.
If Ramsey, Ozil, Santi are in good form. While the rest stay injury free, we’ll surely have a good season
Wish Miyachi and Sanogo will find a Ramseysque form and proof all of their critiques wrong, including me!
Ozil was better last season than a lot of Arsenal fans and football writers gave him credit for. Sometimes he doesn’t stand out, but if you focus on watching him play he’s quietly pulling strings, creating opportunities and space for others. I think he’s a really subtle and intelligent player.
Love our squad at the moment – every single one of them. I just hope they win something this season, because they really deserve it.
Mesut….pure class!
Pure class!!
We have got to get this man back into the center of the pitch. His magic passes are second to none, and I’m really looking forward to seeing more of them.
Does anyone else get slightly annoyed with the “I can’t believe Ozil is a gooner!” stuff? I mean, I appreciate the sentiment – but come on – we are the gunners! Players like Ozil should be playing for us!
I think some of the critism has been fair.
he’s not a winger, he can’t play box2box, he’s just a very good no10, we can’t always play with a no10 and Arsene will end up accommodating him in the team somewhere he doesn’t fit, and he will end up losing even more confidence.
I’d love him to prove me wrong and start really imposing himself on games week in week out, but I’d be very surprised if that we’re the case, I think he’s just an expensive luxury
You talk like a wife – I want you to do blah blah, but I know you are not going to do blah blah. Now prove me wrong.
Once Walcott and girpud are back….Walcott from the right, Sanchez from the left, giroud upfront and ozil the puppet master at number 10!!!!
He should be playing on the right in a free role. This gives him opportunity to run past opposition and cut inside and use his favoured left foot to put Alexis, Ramsey and Wilshere through. In the current situation my line up:
Szcezcny
Debuchy, Kosc, Mert, Monreal
Chambers
Ozil, Ramsey, Wilshere, Oxlade
Sanchez
This gives Oxlade the same freedom as Özil to run with the ball straight at opposition defenders with searing pace.
Wilshere is showing signs of showing his true class hence the inclusion.
Chambers as DM. Better than Flamini at defensive work, has slotted nicely into central role already although he was supposed to be an RB. He passes very well and would sit nicely in front of the two CBs. Time to give it a shot against Leicester
Chambers as DM is probably the main reason I want to see us sign a CB. We can probably go through the season with the defenders we have right now (compared to last year we have Chambers for Vermaelen and Bellerin for Jenkinson, although seven defenders is a bit short), but that wouldn’t leave much time for Chambers at DM, as we’d have to keep him fairly fresh as defensive cover.
Best quote from the interview: “It’s not about the individual, it’s about the team” There is a good reason he is so highly rated by all managers, and Ronaldo mourned his departure from Madrid. Even Mourinho is fulsome in praise “somebody where every time he touches the ball, the ball smiles. Every time he makes a pass, the ball goes with the right direction, the right speed, the right intensity, this is Özil.” And that’s from a cunty bus driver – and the same man who thinks Mata is shit and is borderline the same attitude on Hazard. Because he… Read more »
“It’s not about the individual, it’s about the team”
Yeah, that quote got me as well. For all his other worldly talent, this shows to me that he gets it Fantastic! I hope he enjoys a brilliant season, and in turn adds to his and Arsenals collection of titles!
COYG!!!!
Let’s get right behind the Wizard of Oz this season! COYG!
Some times I watch Paul and as much as I wish him to really succeeds this season I’m just afraid. He doesn’t give me confidence when I watch him play he hides from the big games and doesn’t take things by the horn…
Good piece on Ozil by the Guardian today: http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/aug/29/mesut-ozil-arsenal-transfer-window-premier-league
Highlights our (the English’s) insistence on quantifiable footballing talent and how Mesut surpasses that.
Also a fantastic Özil piece (sans interview) in the Grauniad by the excellent Barney Ronay: http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/aug/29/mesut-ozil-arsenal-transfer-window-premier-league And I didn’t post this just because Ronay is one (IMHO) of the best of UK newspaper sports writers around – i.e. “Özil at his best is a gossamer presence, a player who seems to see elite modern football’s reduced spaces as a kind of balletic mathematical challenge to be unpicked by stealth, carrying around with him at all times that flickering mental flowchart of movements and spaces and possibilities.” BUT because of this: “Özil’s undeniable strengths. He may be a maverick talent, a… Read more »
Did somebody call for an angry, dying walrus?
Ozil is fundamental to the way Arsenal play and is a brilliant player. He does exactly what Wenger asks of him 99% of the time (apart from the odd ‘bad’ game). I spent time just watching him play at a lot of Arsenal home games last season. His worth for us defensively is as big as what he can produce offensively. Give him the ball in a tight situation and he will keep it. That allows the team to regain it’s shape and regain territorial advantage over the opposition time and time again. He is just getting fit, but to… Read more »
The Wizard has spoken.. and so shall it be!!!
Don’t talk about it, be about it.
Mesut ozil, alongside iniesta, are the best attacking midfielders in the world. I’ve been dreaming of us signing ozil after he ripped english u21 back in 08 i think(i remember when we we’re interested in him before wc2010, some people said we didn’t need him and wilshere was better and we had mark randall, ramsey, ozyakup, etc). He is the most intelligent no 10 and the difference between him and the likes of mata, silva, oscar, etc is his off the ball movement…the way he drags defenders around when he doesn’t have the ball….of course dim witted pundits like shearer,… Read more »
Re the comment about the invincibles not needing target man. Well they had Henry up front. Greatest striker ever to grace the PL. We have Sanago …