Arsene Wenger believes Mesut Ozil went some way towards silencing his doubters as Arsenal beat Aston Villa in a convincing 3-0 away win.
The German international pounced on a Danny Welbeck through ball to put the Gunners ahead on 32 minutes before returning the favour two minutes later with a fine cross that teed up the England striker. An own goal by Aly Cissokho wrapped up proceedings a minute later.
Speaking after the game about Ozil’s contribution, Wenger made clear he didn’t think about withdrawing the £42 million man from the firing line after a week of criticism in the papers and from certain sections of the fanbase.
“No, not really, no,” Wenger told his post-game press conference.
“You consider it always, I have many offensive players and you always look to find the right balance and it’s not always easy because I gave Sanchez a rest as he played many games.
“We have plenty of experienced players who are not playing at the moment and are top quality. But I felt as well that it was at the point where you have to show him that confidence is there. He showed as well that he can respond when he’s under scrutiny.”
With Jack Wilshere left on the bench, Ozil operated in his favoured number 10 position between Villa’s midfield and defence. Touching on the tactical shift, Wenger continued:
“I adapted a bit game by game. There is a little difference but not a major one. Ozil played today behind their midfield because I thought they made it very tight. But it’s important for us to find Ozil between the lines and move the game forward.
“It worked, but he can play everywhere. I believe that the team played well and after it’s easier for everybody.”
The boss also reserved praise for Danny Welbeck who notched his first goal in Arsenal colours and led the attacking line well all afternoon.
“He scored a similar goal to the one he scored in Switzerland. A cross from the left and he pushed it in – the timing of his run is good.
“I think he had a very good performance today because he kept the ball. Ball retention is important and he had a good all-round game for a central striker.”
So, all in all…lots of positives on one of those lovely football afternoons where we only had to spend 31 minutes bent double with crippling anxiety instead of the usual 90. And a tip of the cap to Mesut and Danny.
Really excited by Welbeck, he has all the tools to be a great lone striker. Was delighted when we signed him and I hope his goal yesterday will be a first of many.
I was not delighted when we signed him, but I am getting more and more impressed by him after every game.
I hope all these pundits questioning Ozil’s quality will now pipe the f*ck down.
Great to see the little bug eyed pass master bagging a goal and also setting up Welbeck for his debut goal in Arsenal colours.
Hopefully they can roll this confidence into Saturdays match against the Sp*ds, and we can give them a solid panning.
Just a bunch of perfect results this weekend. We beat Villa. United get hammered by Leicester. Sp*rs beaten by West Bromwich Albion and two of our main rivals work each other very very hard and share the points, which is the best result for us. And Balotelli trolling Manure on twitter. Just delighted by the galacticos going down to the mighty Foxes.
Oh and Leicester fans: ‘‘We’re taking the piss, we’re taking the piiiiiessss. We’re Leicester City, we’re taking the piss!!!” LOLLL
Not to forget that Liverpool and Everton both lost too, really couldn’t have worked out better results this w/e for us, love it when the stars align.
Yep, it was the perfect set of results for AFC: every other top 6 team (plus sp*rs or man u, depending on which you think is more worthy of the top 6 label, lol) lost except for the two who were playing eachother, who drew, just as we’d want them to.
Do I have to say something before we know the performance was good down good players being deployed at their natural disposition
Funnily enough if you look at his heat map from the game (not going to link the daily fail, but am sure you can find it) he spent a lot of time on the wings, just spent slightly more than average in the 10 position … Seems to me like he just started in middle and roamed instead of starting on the flank and roaming
Yeah, but a left sided player still has a strong responsibility to protect their full back which is the part of his game which is just not suited to the position.
I missed the game but when i checked the scores at half time and i saw arsenal 3 up, and paticularly Mesut and Danny on the score sheet, i couldn’t contain the happiness
Q. Why is Ozil a flop?
A.Cause he’s not.
oh Mesut Ozil, Oh Mesut Ozil, Oh Mesut Ozil… We love you long time!
Joie de vivre!
Seems like Wenger loves that his players prove him right…even when he is wrong.
Seems like many “supporters” love to try prove Wenger wrong… even when he is right.
accidentally thumbed you up rob, damn it
Really feel for Rosicky, Cazotla, Podolski, Chamberlain. SO much quality, should be playing so much more.
Also hoping Diaby, Rosicky, Poldi start the midweek Capital One Cup game! Coyg.
Hard to see them starting in the EPL anytime soon. But I agree with you that Carling Cup action should clearly be in the cards for them next week. It’s a long season they will get their chances
4-2-3-1 = LANS
Bring in Walcott and Diaby and I will cheer immensely for all the immeasurable joy experienced, bossing the other teams. That’s before even adding the true Don #KosDaBoss. Arsenal *sighs*… I chose well…
*ahem
Did someone mention the true Don?
Time to bring back Don Vito! I miss the lad.
You can’t fault Welbeck’s work rate.
I fancy him for 25 goals this season.
Bring on the spuds
This is where I really love that we signed him permanently and not on a loan. If he was a loaned player it would be hard to ignore the fact that good performances would only increase the price we would have to pay at the end of the season – or even decrease the probability of united letting us have him. Love his attitude and loved that he scored!
There is usually a fixed price agreed beforehand (if the selling team don’t want the player). After the loan spell the manager can either pay the originally negotiated price or opt out of it.
Good point indeed!
That’s for a loan with option to buy, but most loans come without it.
Highlight for me was the smile on Ozil’s face…took 12 months to see that!
Spot on.
Especially your last paragraph.
Anybody else saw that old Lady#villa Fan#ask for our Managers autograph?? Just class and shows sometimes that we don’t appreciate him mostly rightfully coz of results..But shows that his respected…I love football…
In that case Man United is not football
Danny Hustles.Danny Harries,Danny works his socks off ,Danny is pacey and Danny Scores….. Complete Striker……
Danny passes and assists too
Very accurately as well, 35 out of 36 passes successful is quite frankly mad for a striker.
oooooooh Danny Boy… I’m a gooner baby so why don’t you thrill me!
I especially like Danny Workshissocksoff – a great player.
Hi
“Ozil’s not fit to wear the shirt!”
“Ozil’s a disgrace!”
“Ozil never even runs!”
Doesn’t seem to be a lot of that around today. Which is nice.
With all due respect,
Even after his worst performances, I don’t think I ever saw that being written on here…
I mean, I saw some fairly well deserved criticism at the time and now some very well deserved praise.
For long may it last.
Also with all due respect, a lot of what I saw written around here was not far off of that at all, and it was quite sad.
I am now this is fun
Our 3 minute blitz today was amazing and then onwards it was cruise control which was actually not that boring IMO.
For the midweek game against Southampton I think we should definitely play fringe players i.e Bellerin, Hayden, Flamini, Campbell, Podolski, Rosicky and I wouldnt mind seeing Ospina get a game too he has stated that he is finally settled and fully fit which is good news.
I meant thumbs up! I agree all our A class second team should play for the League Cup on Tuesday!
With pacey, energetic and stamina filled players like Alexis, Welbeck, Walcott and Ramsey, Rosicky,Wilshere available probably slightly further back, we look capable of pressing any team into mistakes so that Ozil and/or Cazorla can capitalise and punish.
Surely , with all this pace available , we could also drop very deep and deny space , especially away from home against the top teams. Our ability to counter attack on the break should be breathtaking and very very dangerous.
We don’t seem to press well against the top teams or deny space, even. Dortmund provided a masterclass this past week. On Saturday you could tell that after the first goal there was a zip in many player’s step. I think we need confidence to defend with zeal; whether we’re up, down or whatever. Otherwise that creeping feeling in the back of our heads that we will concede won’t go away. Last season a sense of defensive fortitude started to build, but we lacked serious attacking threats when being pressed. This season we should be able to do both, if… Read more »
We’ve so many talented players right now I love it! Personally, I’d like us to try a midfield diamond of Ramsey, Sanchez, Walcott and Ozil with welbeck and giroud up top in some meaningless game in April, when we’ve already won the league, just to see attacking overload!
I hope that there are no meaningless games in April, and that we are in or around top spot.
I was impressed with welbecks ball control. Good feet.
A little perspective guys, we played a team who had been dropping like flies from a virus. There are far bigger test to come, lets start by spanking the spuds next week.
I dont really care if the entire villa 11 had ebola yesterday. Important things from yesterday : 3 points and a shed load of confidence. Brummie excuses are not relevent. And, it’s like I always say about Ozil….class is permanent, and he looked like he had a very classy game yesterday. More please.
Its not like we are on some losing streak and we need a confidence boasting win. We are pretty much unbeaten for almost 6 months. So excuse me for not getting excited, considering the circumstances, about a routine win. If we want to compete for the top prizes this year we need to prove ourselves in the big test.
The biggest test will be to not lose against the big teams, especially away from home, and to pick up full points against teams we should be hammering. Liverpool is not the same team it was last year. Man Utd (*spits) is too strong for my liking, although if you keep their front line quiet, their back line is terrible. As for City, again, not as strong as last season either. The strongest team, though I hate to say it, is definitely Chelsea. We are probably above Utd and below City and Chelsea.
Manure too STRONG!
AHAHAHAHAHA!
To be honest You can keep your perspective. I’m quite enjoying a sound win, thankyouverymuch.
And no, it’s not like we were on a losing streak, but everyone had knives out for Ozil and rumblings were starting for Welbeck, so it’s as close to snapping a losing streak as I care for right now and it makes me just as happy.
Besides, the hacks and complainers were essentially treating it as if it were a 10 match losing streak and we were bottom of the table. Makes me happy to see them do one.
Yes Ben, exactly.
I was late on the news that FA has deducted one point from us to give it to Villa for contaminating their dressing room. I thumbed you down by accident. Apologies.
Amazing how that virus only affected the Villains for 3 first half minutes……. 😉
I think Welbeck is relishing the chance at playing as the main man up top. Can’t fault his work rate, has a good touch, carries the ball well and yesterday we got the icing on the cake with a tasty finish and assist. Let’s hope he goes on to take many more chances and United will fucking hate it, making it all the more marvelous!
I think United hate is the most satisfying especially RVP not playing particularyl well!!!!
I like his work rate and everything and very happy to be wrong about his transfer as I was one of the funs that didnt want him 🙂 COYG
Wenger’s smile is as wide as the mascots in that pic, which is good to see.
If he doesn’t make it difficult for himself (cash reserves) he & us would be smiling a lot more.
Welbeck will make Van Gaal and a lot of Man U fans eat their words. He has found the midfield his skill set was crying for. After playing three games for us, I have realized that a striker like Welbeck can’t thrive on a midfield of Cleverly, Carrick and Fletcher or Anderson. With Ozil, Carzola, Rosicky, Ramsey, Wilshere and even Diaby behind him, he will get many chances to put balls in the net.
is it me or does our midfield play better and a lot more fluid when it is one of jack or aaron in the middle.
anybody else noticed?
Yes, they do seem to bump into each other a bit when they’re both covering the same area. It’ll probably get better in time, but for now Ozil + 1 seems to be a better option.
That was the change fans wanted and Wenger gave it. We dont know if Wenger did it because fans demanded it or he did it out of his own conscience but it was really a positive step and that helped Ozil and the team. But big games are coming thick and fast. Tottenham, Champions League and Chelsea. Before Astonvilla we were playing very poor and it was imperative we did well sooner and we did. Can we do similar with big games coming? Can we perform similarly against Tottenham and Galatasaray at home and Chelsea away? Can we rise from… Read more »
I say let Danny play human air guitar before every game, it seems to get him the mood.
Is Joel Campbell the new Park Chu-Young?
5 league games into the season seems a bit early to make that comparison
Delighted with the 3 points,i hope mesut Özil can go on to produce like that on a consistent basis.
Great, now please let Joel, Podolski, Diaby, and Rosicky play at CoC.
Can Coq play at CoC?
Ozil needs to do it against the likes of Spuds, United and the Chavs if he really wants to shut everybody up. Let’s be honest: Villa were pretty average yesterday.
I hope now that he’s got his first goal for us, Welbeck will now push on and start putting away those easy chances.
What a weekend. Manchester united losing by 5-3.
Looks like the virus hasn’t travelled as far south as Leicester yet !
. . . and no injuries.
A very good day indeed!
United. Heh. Losers.
Just noticed the spores lost at home as well. This really has been a wonderful weekend.
BRING ON THE (saints) SCUM!!!
GET IN THERE BAGGIES!
Fat gooner, do you drink in the bailey holloway rd, pre and post match? Sure its you lol.
No; but I do love the Holloway Road. I used to hang about there a lot during the Eighties.
By the way, wasn’t the Leicester v United game wonderful? I still haven’t stopped laughing.
Results wise this has been a great weekend so far. After our convincing win with Ozil and dat guy Welbz scoring, Liverpool, Manure and Spuds all got their pants pulled down by so called lower level opposition.
All we need now is for Citeh to take points off the cunty chavs.
The only thing missing from that picture is Chelsea receiving a good thumping as well!
I want Mesut and Danny to have my babies!
My apologies for commenting before I knew that MC and Chelsea were playing each other. Either way, a draw is the best result between the two I guess.
A v good w.e. so far. Come on €ity. Theres not only one fatgooner! X
* (saints, then)
F*ck i hate Chelsea. Still a superb day of results for us regardless though. Everton 1-3 down too!
HAHAHAHA
Get in there big fat frank
and thus completes an utterly perfect weekend of football
Welbeck, Ozil on the scoresheet
united, chelsea, liverpool, city, spurs, everton all dropped points
Such a great weekend to be a gooner
Happy? Some numbers to make you happy this weekend! Leicester 5- United 3 = United 5 points West Ham 3 – Liverpool 1 = Liverpool 6 points Spurs 0 – WBA 1 = Spurs are crap Everton 2- Palace 3 = Everton 5 points And of course thank you Frank Lampard. Pundiots Zero points Pratternberg Zero points (except for the penalty) Media pack gone all quiet now that their favorite team Liverpool and their favorite progressive manager Brendan Rodgers are the new spurs (or maybe its United). Their second favorite Roberto Martinez struggling yet again. And then : Mainz 2… Read more »
Caution to the lame who continuously call for a change of manager after every defeat. Rodgers, Martinez, Ponchentinno. Flavour of the month. Not so easy is it/ Pundiots think Rodgers is the latest Brian Clough or something. Take away a Suarez and add in CL (which we at Arsenal had to play last season and for 18 seasons CONSECUTIVE …note to Spuds), and more difficult for ex-Liverpool Pundiots to paper over the cracks at Anfield. Ditto Martinez. Everyone’s progressive manager last season. But his seen a number of teams win a cup and get relegated subsequently. Not so easy with… Read more »
Ozil. I suppose the difference starting in the middle for him is he has less defensive need to cover ground on the flanks. That said, he put on a bit of a shift given less to cover. Otherwise attacking or going forward, it seems more psychological given he drifted left for goals. BC the way Wenger has it set up, he has a fluid system to accommodate (particularly) the versatility of Ozil and Santi and Alexis being able to interchange within a game across the midfield (to some extent Ox too) Tricky to master but when we do so, extremely… Read more »
It also allows him to pull markers out of position more and create havoc for the defenders who continually have to shift coverage around or follow him and leave holes for other players to take advantage of. When the reverse happens and he drifts inside, there are already a lot of defenders packing the area. This way he can either help overload a side or disappear from his markers easier, and he’s got a phenomenal footballing brain for those advantages. Continue to give him the opportunity to be outlet and drift and he’ll tear teams of any level apart eventually.… Read more »
Here here. AW said it doesn’t matter where he plays. But Saturday’s performance suggests it does. At least in Ozil’s head.
Man City and Chelsea draw. Liverpool, Everton, Man U and Spores lose.
WE WIN
Can it get any better ?
Will depend on next games. We must not let this opportunity go to squander. We have been guilty of it before.
What a come back by Leicester. If it were us (last we conceded to Newcastle 4-4, it was a draw), media pundiots would be going on as if it were a victory to the other side. Since its United not much said other than something about spending again. Ditto Liverpool, something about not being there yet as they have not in the last 5 seasons which is something like spurs in the last 10. Were it us, it would be something along the lines of us never winning a trophy ever again. Things change….unless you are ex-Liverpool and a media… Read more »