Mesut Ozil says he’s missing playing football as he nears the end of his lengthy injury spell.
The playmaker damaged knee ligaments in the game against Chelsea, and has been undergoing rehab and recovery since. He’s hoping to make a comeback ‘as soon as possible’, but as has admitted that he finding it hard to be on the sidelines for so long.
“After a time, you really miss playing football,” he said in an interview with Arsenal Player.
“You miss the ball and just want to play. When you watch the games and think that you could have been playing, and playing well, it makes you miss it. But that’s the way things are.
“I’m working every day to get myself fit and I’m on the right path now. It won’t be much too much longer before I’m back on the pitch. I hope to be back training with the whole team again as soon as possible.”
He also said the Gunners need to smarten up at the back in order to win the games necessary this season.
“When you watch the games, we’ve dominated a lot of them but have conceded unnecessary goals. That can’t happen, because in the Premier League, every team is capable of beating one another.”
Ozil is not expected back until the new year, but he has returned to training and should be involved in full contact work with the first team imminently.
Cant wait to have Ozil back!
I hope everybody saw that how we missed him while he was injured! Inch perfect passes and being in the right place without a fuss! His game is so beautiful and smooth, you only appreciate it when you dont have him!!!! What a pitty, some couldnt see it! Come on Ozil! We are looking forward to you!!!!!!!!
You mean missing the lazy tracking back, looking like someone just kicked his puppy, sure missing that in loads
More the controlling play, and laser guided passing that is being missed.
You are as knowledgeable in football as Robbie Savage’s mum.
I bet he misses Giroud’s balls the most.
I’ll get my own damn coat thankyouverymuch.
Look at your own work rate/defending before ya start blaming others Mr Ozil. P.S I know his game isn’t about defending but his application isn’t what it should be.
Why don’t you take a proper look at his workrate and the ground he covers before you chat utter garbage
Fuck off. I bet he looks ‘disinterested’ to you as well.
it’s hard to believe there’s people out there that don’t appreciate what ozil brings to the game. the fact that he does it while “looking” like he isn’t putting in the effort is even more remarkable. agree with ibrahim – the ground he covers is impressive. i’ve said it before, but it can’t be overstated the mistake wenger made choosing to play jack in the middle and pushing ozil to the wing. CRIMINAL!
Whats the point in covering ground if you cant/wont tackle when you dont have the ball?
Offering possibilities of play to your teammates? Attracting opponents to free your partners? Playing football?
As if football were just a matter of tackling…
You’ve got to admit he gets knocked off the ball far too easily though, and he loses out in challenges that he really should be winning. I think he’s great but he has room to improve.
You say he gets knocked off the ball too easily. Let’s see, did it ever occur to you that it might be because he’s not 6ft 5″ tall or ‘cos he doesn’t weight 500pounds or just maybe becuase he doesn’t have an absolutely terrible afro like Fellaini? *I kid, I kid*. Listen, all dimunitive players lack on-the-ball stamina, what they use to make up for it is trickery and maneuvability in play and movement. Goetze, Silva, Iniesta, Nasri, Isco and the likes, that’s what they all are. Now you can’t tell me Ozil doesn’t have the requisite skill and flair… Read more »
Movement and positioning
Why the insults? It’s totally uncalled for. I don’t hate Ozil, I wouldn’t insult him; he’s an Arsenal flag bearer and I love the club to bits. But I have a problem with his application; call me naive, uninformed or whatever but he can really be frustrating to watch, especially during tough away games when he fails to retain the ball and help the team keep possession under pressure. His quality is obvious but I’m completely for the school of thought that he can do much better, especially defensively, and that’s what Tiger Tadgh was putting across.
Jack, Ox, Ramsey and Alexis give up possession far more often than Mesut, especially in more dangerous areas of the pitch. And if you look carefully when we are looking for an outlet when we’ve been under pressure, who is there? Ozil. He doesn’t get called into back tackling as much because he doesn’t give the ball away as cheaply in bad positions, and his primary role is the attacking half. Alexis, bless him, runs his nads off tracking back, but that’s because of turning it over. But with him it’s a part of his game I’m willing to accept… Read more »
Özil is an extremly special player, nothing wrong with his work rate. Absolutely amazing passing.
He seems to treat the game more as a marathon where he has to spread his effort evenly, rather than a succession of high intensity events. You can point to statistics showing that he covers a large amount of distance, but watching the game it’s obvious he pretty much doesn’t win 50-50s and gets knocked off the ball far too easily. He just doesn’t seem to have that fight for those smaller moments like Alexis and Ox do, but his constant effort means he’s always taking up intelligent positions and seemingly in control. I mean I don’t think it’s an… Read more »
Hmm? You do realise that Özil is not the quickest player on the planet?! Ofcourse he is not going to do it like Alexis/Oxlade. And he does speed up when he has to, otherwise he would not be playing the game. He lack a bit of physicality for sure, but he is a extremly intelligent player. His timing of his passes are magnificient and his passing efficiency is one of the best in the league..
Özil’s job is to create chances for his teammates, if let’s say there is a counter-attack in the making his job is not to take the ball and press forward. His job is to find the pass towards another player for that player to drive forward. If Özil were to speed up and it would be high intensity, we would not benefit from his passing in the same way… Believe it or not but if you have very high speed it is harder to strike a precise pass. Things happends in a high tempo.. And yes, he has from time… Read more »
I’d like to point out that this is football we’re talking about here, not Wrestlemania. There’s no point having 11 different Mangala(s) on the pitch. Or 11 Inzaghi(s). Everyone has a role, and no player is the ideal, complete footballer, every single one of them has a merit and an equal shortcoming. If you lose sight of Mesut’s abilities and contribution to the team and expect him to switch to Flamini in an instant then I’d have to say you lack an appreciation of football. And that’s the same mistake Mourinho made with Mata, claiming he’s not defensive minded. Of… Read more »
I don’t know, I think you’re all taking my argument to extremes here. I don’t think he should constantly hurtle around the pitch like Alexis, that isn’t his game or his strength, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t instances where he should increase his efforts. I also happen to think that Alexis could learn a little from Ozil. Look at the Arsenal player he’s most commonly compared to – Bergkamp, as an example. He was graceful and controlled until directly challenged, at which point he became aggressive and strong and wouldn’t lose possession easily. Pires, the same. Ozil is… Read more »
can’t wait for Ozil to come back. but i’m even more excited for Walcott’s comeback! he will be in the squad vs Liverpool. so good to have him back.
Oddly enough, I was just watching that Brazil v Germany game earlier. Reminded me that Mr Ozil needs to work on his striking 😉
Ozil…he’ll be off in the summer. Prem too big for him. Alexis the real deal.
Are you Adrian Durham?
Or Piers Morgan?
And you call yourself an arsenal fan? Mesut Özil was our record signing and during the start of last season he was absolutely superb. His co-operation with Aaron Ramsey was amazing to see. He created key opportunities for the team, he sees passes very few footballers can. He has been crowned king of the assist in Europe for a reason. He has the touch of a maestro and a football understanding very few players have. His passes are absolutely perfect. He can create stuff for the team, when he was out last season we suffered a lot as an effect… Read more »
Or LeGrove?
Can’t wait to have Ozil back.
If we ever have a fully fit squad it will be some team.
But that’s a big if…:-(
Ozil is real class and we’ll be better with him.
Let’s get all our best players back fit and healthy and fuckin rip this league up.
Buy a defensive midfielder and a Centre half and go for it.
Bring on The Scousers
I’ve no time for the idiots who do nothing but slag ozil off he was never brought to defend he’s our most creative midfielder brought to create so just appreciate him for what he is
Not slagging him off because he is awesome but the same people who defend Ozil for having poor defensive work rate/alertness, tend to be the same people who then criticise Podolski for the same thing
Personally, I think Ozil could do a little more defensively, despite it really not being a strength of his, however he gives so much to the team that it’s worth having someone who can’t tackle around. If Poldi gave the same amount to our team that Ozil did, then his lack of defenvie work would also be *kinda* justified, it’s not the lack of defensive ability but the lack of all other things that mean he’s mostly on the outside. Ozil can affect things greatly without any end product (ie. assists/goals) but when Ppoldi isn’t nailing a cross or boshing… Read more »
Should we sell Wilshere? I’m not impressed by him anymore. He is supposed to be an attacking midfielder but his goal/assists stats are hardly impressive or deservant of the wages we are supposedly going to pay him.
i doubt wenger will sell him, but he’s definitely not a starter on this team when everyone is fit. his numbers are dismal. probably better in a deeper role (competing with ramsey), but wenger seems intent to play him forward. it’s looking like he’ll be the next diaby so probably don’t have to worry about it.
I don’t think he’ll go anywhere else any time soon, but some real thinking needs to be done on his best role. I might take a few hits for this, but I do think Jack and Aaron should probably be in rotation. Despite many efforts they just aren’t finding a way to play together because they are too alike in some key ways. They both want to go box to box and drive forward from deep. They’re both capable and willing tacklers. And when they’re both on it seems neither knows when to sit back. I don’t know that they… Read more »
Agreed. Thats the dilemma Wenger’s facing at the moment.
He isn’t a better number 10 than ozil and carzola and to be honest isn’t a better cm(or box to box) than ramsey(might have slighty better technique).
He also lacks the tactical discipline to play as a dm(not just physical).
Sell the “future captain” of Arsenal?? i doubt it.
Ozil is better at the moment, but he’s still young and hopefully he comes good.
Don’t agree with paying him 150k though.
The main reason Wilshere has not been able to fulfil his potential is that we had to overplay him in the 2010-11 season because he was one of the best players on the team. Getting injured for 18 months at a growing age has caused him to lose his balance and agility. While his upper body developed during that time, his legs haven’t been able to keep up. My point is that, the only reason we are talking about selling him now, instead of worrying about whether Bayern or Barca are going to bid for him is that Jack had… Read more »
Alot of sense being right there. I’m still 100% convinced the jack wilshere who broke onto the arsenal scene was one of the best cm’s in europe ( I just cant forget how he bossed the midfield against barcelona in THAT game, the best midfield in europe). It’s unfair to judge him because hes not been able to get a long enough run together to hit his real level. When he does, just like ramsey has, he will prove himself to the world and he will play himself into the side.
Wilshere stats are really poor, and it was absurd favoritism he displaced Ozil. But, I am sick of the concept of any and all midfielders being ‘box to box’ at this point….it’s a stupid concept that should be re-thought (and managers such as Mourinho do ignore the idea to a degree and instill more discipline). I prefer two central defenders holding deep with two central midfielders holding midfield – this still allows six players to push forward in attack. The key weakness of Wilshere in attacking mode is he surges forward for himself, not the team. He over-runs into trouble… Read more »
Wilshere looked like he’d be a deep lying playmaker in his first season(capello said so when he was still england’s coach)…he did the basics very well and could burst forward occassionally. However, after coming back from his first injury, he started overcomplicating his play – holding on to the ball for too long, etc.
At the end of the day, he isn’t a better no 10 than ozil.
I think it genuinely is that the opposition for England has been weak, Jack reads the game well enough and his distribution is good enough to make a difference for England back there, even if he will be overrun by better teams. If you ever get the chance to read Naveen’s column over on 7amkickoff, he seems to think that having more players who can both attack AND defend helps teams be better*, so I don’t buy getting in 2 guys to sit back, you have someone who CAN sit and CAN attack when the play demands it, along with… Read more »
Sell Wilshere? Sorry Ryab but I’m not having that. You’re right though about the high wages, but let’s face it he could get that kind of money elsewhere – every single Premier League club would want him. Furthermore I think that you’re overlooking the importance of having someone at the club that grew up being a fan. He knows what it means to have a cannon on your chest, and after seeing several of our below par performances this season I don’t think that can be said of quite a few of the 1st team squad. He is still very… Read more »
That miss against the hated Man Utd epitomizes the frustrating talent he is. Brilliant in patches. Cannot be defined as a proven performer by any means. Manages his body poorly and has never quite grown up
Take a gander at this:
https://www.facebook.com/LeoMessi
Are you some type of weirdo?
Ozil, kos and debuchy.
Get these 3 back to full fitness and who knows…we might go on a run in the ucl.
Can’t wait to see ozil link up with alexis and theo…potential to rip defences apart.
I wonder where this talk of his lack of application started? Oh thats right. It was the media who started that pile of rubbish. I dont know about you but everytime one of them cunts open their mouth about Ozil being “so shit and lazy” I get a feeling its more to do with the fact he made The Great Gareth Barry (Who coincidently we should be signing every season according to them) look like mince meat when Germany demolished England in the World Cup 2010. Maybe they haven’t got over it still. I for one am looking forward to… Read more »
Probably. He really made “captain marvel” gerrard and “super frank” lampard look stupid that day.
The Mail headline after the Germany-Brazil game still makes me laugh.
‘Ozil fails to shine in German victory’ or words to that effect.
Even they realise it was dumb as they changed it after a few hours.
Shit, I forgot that we have you..
Please comeback soon.
I am not sure that we have player or any staff member named “Shit”
Ex-player.. Robin Van Pershit
I think in terms of development we have 3 distinct age groups : D- Developing 17-22 P- Prime 23-27 M- Mature 28-33+ (depending on relative football age of course) In view of that, we have to see Arsene’s efforts the balance the various positions between youthful promise and experience. CF – Giroud (M), Welbeck (P), Sanogo (D) RW – Walcott (P), Ox (D/P), Campbell (D/P) LW – Alexis (P), Podolski (M), Gnabry (D) AM – Ozil (P), Santi (M), Rosicky (M) CM – Ramsey (P), Jack (D/P), Diaby (M) DM – Arteta (M), Flamini (M), Coquelin (D/P) RB – Debuchy… Read more »
He’s just not my cup of tea, rather play with two dynamic box to box midfielders with one sitting, he gets outmuscled to easily, loses heart when it doesn’t go his way and he’s not the type of character you want in your team in a real heated battle.
I hope he improves, but other than his first 3 months he’s really not been very good. I’d sell him in a heartbeat and put the money towards Schniderlin and Pogba.
I’d love to know how many times you’ve actually seen Pogba play, other than his highlight reels on youtube of his 30 yard screamers. And Schneiderlin? Don’t make me laugh..
Well we’ve tried Jack and Aaron all season.
I’m ready for Ozil at AM with 2 CM’s behind him where he belongs and has ripped teams apart.
Fair enough, it’s nice to see someone saying it’s simply not his style, rather than saying he’s a bad player.
Personally, I love to see a passing game. And I disagree with your assessment of his character, I think your playing style preference informs that, rather than any actual evidence.
If there is any chance we can get Pogba, I’d take it but I very much doubt he’ll be in our price range.
Oil will come good. Just be patient Gooners. He hasn’t always shown it, but he is a class player with an abundance of quality. Once he’s fully use to the rigours of the Premier League, he will soon become impossible to take out of the starting 11.
Ozil! Oil is evil.
Lots of love for Oz, people saying what a great contribution he makes and the ground he covers etc. Let’s get real shall we, stop insulting everyone’s intelligence and be objective. Ozil has the potential to be a great player however at Real Madrid he played in a team with Christian Ronaldo, forcing teams to sit deeper allowing him ample space to play to his strengths. At Arsenal, since the injury to Theo Walcott, he has struggled as he doesn’t get the space he once did. To be a a great player he needs to adapt to this to get… Read more »
I’m pretty sure Özil was played out wide for Germany partly because he can, but mostly because they needed a replacement for Reus.
And partly because they have even more attacking midfielders than we do.
Ooo so we had OZIL. cant wait for him
I remember when we were linked with ozil back when he was at bremen…some “fans” said we didn’t need him and that we had better prospects like mark randall, lansbury, wilshere etc despite him ripping the english u21 side to shreads at that euro final.
Funny how life works….
Can’t believe there’s some who will defend a players averageness, Ozil just hasn’t been that good in reality, if he had balls as big as Alexis’s he’d be one hell of a player.
Why is he still giving interviews in German over 15months after moving here?
I’d love for him to show his early form again on a consistent basis, learn the language and become one of the teams leaders, but he’s not that type of character and he’s unlikely to become that.
Let’s move him on and get Pogba, pace, Power, height and presence
Ask Alexis to conduct an entire interview in English. It’s a big wide world out there with many languages, and if the EPL wants to be the best league all must be welcome.
Ozil’s best performances have come when he is played down the middle too many times he is stuck out on the wing and less effective, he is creative and spots a pass in a blink of an eye, i believe with him in the side we can go 4-4-2 giroud and welbeck up front theo on the right Sanchez on the left ozil and ramsey in the middle how f@@king awesome would that be for an attacking force, gibbs, kos, per, and debouchy at the back Ah… one can only dream they will all be fit and available but there… Read more »
LANS!!!
Ozil needs to look at Sanchez and step up because Cazorla might push him out of teh starting eleven!
I’m beginning to get a good feeling back about this team as the injured start returning. A good Christmas run and we’ll be right back in the top 4!!
Sanchez’s form maybe more of a blessing to Ozil as it means he wont be shafted and thrown left wing… i wouldn’t even play him there on fifa’s career mode..on amateur..
Ozil in is in his second year with us and far from where we expected him to be. I wanted him to be the best playmaker in the league so differences in opinion are due to the level of expectation of each one. He has been criitized even more in Germany so there have been problems with his game. He has to improve. He has great qualities but does not appear to me a hard worker same as Podolski. The latter is paying cash for his lack of efforts. The first is the symbol of Arsenal wanting to have top… Read more »
Özil is criticised in Germany because some German media are simply racist and others simply copy what the English media say. Özil = best creator of Germany during the WC, second of the whole tournament.
He hasn’t changed his style of play, he plays just the same, so why is it a problem now? Compare Arsenal’s place last season with now, compare his position last season and now and you’ve got the answer to the problem.
The difference in Arsenal performance between the current and last season is not due to Ozil injury. It is due to Walcott’s absence and Ramsey’s loss of form. Ramsey was absolute top class last year. We were Ramsey FC in a way. Ramsey deserves our leniency this year but same people who have been slauthering him want Ozil intouchable.
the difference has been wenger playing ozil wide to accommodate jack in the middle. simple. the games ozil played central we destroyed aston villa and gala without breaking a sweat. unfortunately, wenger reverted back to jack in the middle and we were shite again.
Agree…I think the team will gel and strengthen without Wilshre being in the picture over the next couple of months.
I like Ozil – such a great player to watch – but he’s certainly failed to justify his transfer fee so far.
I have a feeling he’s gonna come back with the biggest appetite of his career. Just wait and see
*Envisions over-the-top through ball to Sanchez, who one-time strikes it off the bar back to himself, controls it with his chest and bicycle kicks it into the top corner*.
What?! It could happen!