Arsene Wenger says Mesut Ozil spent much of the last three months bulking up in the gym, but the Frenchman insists that more muscle isn’t the key to winning the physical battle on the pitch.
The German international looked noticeably bigger on his return to first team action earlier this month and the boss confirmed that hitting the weights was something his record signing felt compelled to do.
“He has worked hard,” Wenger told his pre-Brighton press conference. “I think he has taken to the fact that he wants to be stronger.
“You have more time to focus on it [when you are injured]. Every day he is in the gym and he can work on it and as well you don’t have the fatigue of the games. And it’s better when you look in the mirror!”
Naming Claude Makalele as an example of a player who was both diminutive and domineering, Wenger stressed that technique is even more important when making tackles.
“It is not only down to pure strength when you play football. It is down to when to switch your strength on and the timing of your switch on.
“I know players like Claude Makelele, for instance, were not monsters, but when he went for a challenge he had the technique to use his strength in a very efficient way. It is a technique more than a power.
“A guy who spends a bit of time in the gym kills his co-ordination and becomes more rigid. Winning a challenge is down to flexibility and co-ordination, switching on all the muscles on at the same, right, time. That is not down to lifting weights.”
Wenger also touched on where he might play Ozil during the second half of the season in light of the myriad options he has to field in the centre of the park.
“I see him behind the striker or on the flank, where he doesn’t like to play,” Wenger continued.
“I prefer him central. In our team it’s very flexible anyway. When you play on the flank, you can move inside. We usually have one player who is more a winger and another more midfield.
“Ozil is a fantastic football player and he will come back very strongly. We have some players who are completely fresh and rested.
“Every game is important and I have to use players who have not played for nearly four months or, in the case of Theo Walcott, for one year. That’s not easy, I have to use them at the right moment.”
Ozil is set to start against Brighton tomorrow with Wenger likely to rotate a little following last week’s win over Manchester City.
Praise be to the Ozil!
Si.
OH, Come on Ozil! Man City and Chelsea are out of the cup, we have a very good chance to keep it this year! Ozil leads the boys to a victory! COYG!
And Spurs and Southampton! COYG!
In fact, the results so far couldn’t have been much better. Here’s hoping Man Ure and Liverpoo lose their replays.
Damn,we’re a good looking team these days.
Mesut’s eyes look more in proportion with the rest of his body now!
Santi needs to stay where he is and shouldn’t be shafted out to accommodate Ozil.
Özil was put on the flank to accomodate Wilshere…
I think Ozil bulking up has more to do with not being bundle off the ball too often than going into tackles.
Ozil is a world class talent I first spotted when he played in the 2010 world cup and for the life out of I couldn’t understand why it was so easy to get the ball of him. He was so weak physically that he would have spent time in the gym over the summer to strengthen (but for the world cup). He relies on his technique too much which is understandable as he came from a league where you get so much time on the ball. In the Premier league its the opposite, the better you are the more the… Read more »
Ozil; a lean, mean precision machine, and a very fine footballer……
I can’t help but think way too much is being read into Ozil bulking up. It could just be he felt pissed off at injury and decided to concentrate on strength as part of his routine. It does not need to be sliced and diced to death or take on major significance. I just love the fact he has done it and it will help the physical side of his game. I think the idea players bulking up inhibits performance/flexibility is a little passed its sell by date. If Tiger can swing with an impressive upper torso, Ozil will be… Read more »
Fight! Santi v Mesut for the no 10 role.
That’s why Ozil has been in the gym.
with Santi’s ability to wriggle out of challenges I doubt Ozil could lay a hand on him, Santi would just dance around saying annoying stuff like “over here”, “no here”, “right behind you”, “missed again”
Hahahaha aw mate that was brilliant. Wee cheeky santi.
But as soon as Wilshere is back both Özil and Santi will be pushed wide or benched unfortunately.
I sincerely hope that you are wrong, Loke. He is not good enough.
Don’t start this tiresome knocking of players. Wilshere is a great talent. “not good enough” my arse. It’s exactly what we want to have players competing for spots. Not too long ago I think people were starting to moan about Santi being underwhelming.
Really? You think Wilshire is up there with Santi and Ozil? Way to go!…. He might be, but not yet….
Wilshere is behind santi and ozil…
If he gets any stronger Wenger might be have threatened to use him as the elusive DM… God forbid
I prefer a coqblocker there, eyezil is the creative type who sees things others don’t necessarily see
I think strenght is overrated. Sure you need some physical types in the team, but the pundits allways point to the to lack of strenght when someone is underperforming in the premier league. But if you look at England, a team known to be a bit more physical than other national teams, they sure get humilated time and time again by smaller more technical teams, and ironically the best player in the whole England team atm is a small pacey technical winger called Raheem Sterling. In our own team Santi Cazorla, the smallest player we got is also our best… Read more »
I think spelling is overrated
While I generally agree that we’re strong enough,and that it is an overrated quality over here, I take issue with the examples. Yaya Toure is probably City’s best player and is a beast, and Sterling pops up with things every now and again but I rate Welbeck, rooney (yes, even now) and the Ox more highly, all of whom are strong players. No idea why I felt the need to say that, as I do broadly agree, but strength is a useful asset and those who have it on top of other abilities thrive in the Premiership and those who… Read more »
On a basic evel there really isn’t anything to argue. As above, Toure is a great player and a big unit. Santi is a small player in the form of his life. Strength is only a plus. No football player is going to bulk to the point of inhibiting his game (re Wengers comments) so any additional strength training will only be a benefit and assit in keeping some injuries at bay. Specifically, a sportsman who weight trains on top of his regular training will be very in tune with any niggling issues so its all good. As Arseblog mentions… Read more »
Wilshere, please take note. I admire you and Ozil’s football but you both get easily knocked off the ball then start complaining to the ref.
Good shoulder to shoulder battles does not result in fouls. Maybe some Bruce Lee videos of how to use the opponents strength against himself will do.
Forever COYG!
Wiltshire’s decision making annoys me the most along with the Ox. Wilshire always puts his body between his opponent and the ball while expecting a tackle running 100 mph, releasing it at the last millisecond thinking that he got the better of his opponent but not realising that he is still coming at him regardless (Hence the broken limbs every other day). The Ox frustrates me in that he holds on to the ball expecting that he is gonna pass 20 players, only to give it up so easily to the first (especially in our half). One thing he needs… Read more »
Plus Wilshire runs into players, instead of passing. His positioning and reading of the game is poor. Whereas, Ozil is in a different league in that respect.
Whereas the Ox has come on in leaps and bounds this season plus he reads the game better than JW.
Agree with GoonerN16 on this one. Sorry, Wilshere gets the criticism because it hard to detect any advance/improvement in his game as he continues to make dead end runs a-plenty with no vision. Oxlade-Chamberlain has yet to completely find his feet and role. Two issues – he has constantly been in Walcott’s shadow and had not been played regularly in the first team until recently. I am not sure even he is aware of his own potential. Given a regular place in the first team (I could see this as an even split between him and Walcott in rotation) and… Read more »
After watching
the new Hercules movie..
Ozil is an extremely limited footballer, I’d much rather two of Ox, Alexis, Walcott,Welbeck in the wide positions.
He’s not made out for the PL, he’s not box to box and he’s a wide player either, we should look to move him on.
Hmmm. How about no?
Yeah, no. Sure he is limited in the sense that he has specialized in the role of assisting others and dictating the game. He can create something from nothing. You need different kind of players in different kind of games. Özil can be the difference between a 0-0 result and an easy 3-0 win. The combo of özil and players like ox, Alexis, walcott (and giroud for hold up) is deadly if they start clicking.
Ridiculous. Even in a position he himself says he’s not comfortable with he was one of the WCs most effective players and crucial to Germany winning the tournament. He was bought for his passing ability and vision, not to be like Ramsey or the Ox.
Was he as effective as Neur and Müller though ? I am eagger to see him the most effective in the PL. By bulking up he is trying to adjust to the the league which is a very commendable attitude from a player. Players who have quality always get their top form back. Torres was the only exception I have seen.
Rich?!?!?
more like Poor 🙂
Steady on mate give him a chance!
Rich are you a football club Chairman?
Must be a Spuds troll. lol
I came to that conclusion long ago.
Pig is that you?
Although he was not quite the 42 million we payed for him but we should afford him atleast the same amount of opportunities Gervinho got and then see where he stands.
Its not a question of talent more of his attitude and desire/hunger..
I would be very happy for him if he can adapt in time.
I was going to ask for some of what you’re smoking… but on second thoughts I don’t really want shit to fall out of my mouth when I open it… even if it were temporary. At least I hope it’s temporary?…. rich??
I think we should rest oxlade, cazorla, alexis, giroud, kosielny and coq. Bring in walcott, ozil, campbell, chambers and flamini. Good chance to rotate. Without it taking it lightly, that team should be strong enough. Would like to see Akpom given a run out if possible.
He should just have gone to a laboratory and sustained a bombardment of gamma rays. Instant bulking solution.
The tackles won’t be very clean if that were to happen though.
Mesut gainzil?? Anyone??
Eyezil.
It’s ezil; he is an artiste!
We have Ozil, Santi, Sanchez, Rosicky, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud, Welbeck, and a few others, to fill up the wide/central positions in our attack.
Wenger has signed too many good players and now I can’t work out who our best XI is. Wagna out!
I can’t believe no one can remember the stench of his performances from last December? He’s had about a handful of decent games since then. He’s timid, misses two penalties and looks like he’s about to have a breakdown. Bitches when not played centrally, we certainly didn’t get any of that from Cazorla. He can’t defend. He’s not the type of player you want in your team when things are going against you. He can pick a pass, keep his passing stats up by taking the easy option, make space for others. I just think you need a bit more… Read more »
You don’t rate him, but every top class manager does.
Hmm…random internet bloke or people who know what they are talking about?
Anyone who thinks he’s deserving of a starting position based on anything but reputation must have a very short memory.
He was average at the WC, invisible at the FA cup final, and very poor more often than not since last November.
I just hope we don’t try accomodating him at the expense of the balance of the team.
Ever heard the phrase ‘Form is temporary, but class is permanent’?
Dont forget last season Santi was nowhere as good as he was in his 1st season, but look at him now.
I think Rich is correct in pointing out that Ozil has underwhelmed the last 12 months, keeping in mind he had 2 injuries in that period. He does have something to prove and I hope he challenges Santi for the central midfield position, because I don’t think Wenger should make room for him out wide when there are better players for those positions in the squad. There is no problem having two central attacking midfield options, the problem arises when Wilshere is challenging for the same position. In my opinion it will be hard to displace Santi on current form.… Read more »
He was one of Germany’s best players. What World Cup were you watching?
He retains possession excellently, is always open for a pass and creates chances. Sure he’s a bit of a pansy when it comes to the physical stuff, but this article shows even he realises that, and that isn’t what we bought him for anyway.
Do you work for the Daily Mail?
He was one of Germany’s best players at the World Cup.
He has excellent ball retention, creates untold chances and is always open for a pass. Sure he’s a pansy regarding the physical saide, but this article shows he realises that.
Do you work for the Daily Mail or something?
Rich u retard i hope u die
ace read the comments policy
your prejudice is eclipsed only by your ignorance
Did he play last November or December ? Wasn’t he injured ?
Santi played centrally until the end of Feb in his first season and was outstanding, he got moved when Arsene lost faith with Podolski on the left and generally has performed well even though he lacks the athletisism to exploit the space out wide, and has never moaned once about being played not in his natural position, he gets moved back centrally again and his performances dramatically improve to the level of his first season, we never should have signed Ozil, we should have signed a left sided Midfielder a defensive midfielder and a striker that summer, but Arsene dilly… Read more »
Hey, Rich, otherwise, you’re ok or we call the asylum?
Never read a coach denigrating the 3 months efforts of one of his players to become stronger and trying to stay fit. Never read such words “it is good for the mirror”… unbelievable! Moreover you don’t pay 50M€ and you don’t claim to be happy to have CONVINCED a player to come to your club for after one very good season playing him in a position you know he doesn’t like. I don’t know what Wenger is doing but this is beyond common sense. You all now praise carolzr but he spent 3 months and a half being mediocre before… Read more »
Ozil ozil ozil, oi oi oi!
Ozil, oi
Ozil,oi
Qzil ozil ozil
Oi oi oi!
Guess you have to be an aussie to get this one… love it!
Very interesting interview with Wenger, where he talks about physicality in the modern game, among many other things. “…the request for top-level physicality is much more important than it was 10 years ago. The speed of the game has become a train where you need to jump on. Only after that can you express your talent. You have to show that you can move on this train at that speed. If not, you will find it very difficult in top-level games today. It looks like that has kicked out some very good footballers, just because they cannot move with that… Read more »
He’s nowhere near Bergkamp, Bergkamp’s ability to shield the ball was second to maybe Aidan’s? If anyone at all?
Call me what you want…. it’s just my honest opinion what’s best for the team going forward, we should move for Schneiderlin and Pogba and play them with Ramsey, we’d be a lot more solid.
Yeah, getting one of the biggest talents in world football may be a good move.
My money is on him going to Real or PSG though.
I said he is the most similar to Bergkamp of the players we have. Reading comprehension obviously not your forte.
Ozil’s passing matches the Dutch God in my opinion. Go match ozil’s clips at Madrid…he was a true beast.
Mate.. Fuck off?
Aye,he seems to be one of those guys where people don’t notice the good games so get the impression that he only has bad games. His form has been a bit inconsistent for the last year or so, but there has been a lot of good in with the bad too, it just gets picked up on a little less.
True…example was the home game against man united last season.
… faster,
Scooter!
Hats off for the effort. Can’t wait to see him playing for us on best form!
We can play Ozil & Santi together, we can also rotate them if we need to. No problem what so ever. Our set up is more dynamic anyway. It’s always have been.
When team like City, Chelsea etc have 2 world class players for every positions, the media say that’s a necessity to win the league etc. But when it’s us, all of a sudden it’s a problem. Jeez..
Cant wait to see him back on the pitch but the problem is one bad match and people wil be back stickin it to him
Lets cut him some slack this time around and wait till he looses jis rustiness
I would like to see Ozil as effective as Hazard. Do not like any of the devils in blue shirts but want Ozil to show unquestionable quality like Hazard.
As effective? Yes I want to see that too. BUT, Ozil is not a jinky-janky style player like Hazard, so everyone will have to see his qualities for themselves and for what they are – not expect him to play an entirely different style. This is a problem I see all of the time, including around here. Our players incessantly get compared to players who are entirely different in playing style. They want Giroud to be a speed merchant in behind the defense, despite the fact most sit deep against us making that impossible and despite the fact we play… Read more »
I had the impression that Theo bulked up quite a bit as well.
It’s genuinely exciting finding out about our our team selection all of the sudden. Strange feeling, been quite a few years.
We can definitely accommodate both in the same team, either in the starting 11 or rotating as and when necessary. Let’s not forget that Ozil is also 4 years younger, so will, hopefully, be around and at the top of his game for longer. Personally, I’m pleased that we’re even having this debate at all…….can’t remember the last time I had such a dilemma trying to pick our best XI? Talk about a luxury problem……
I see the formidable strikeforce of Palace have just done a number on the Saints. Good to see Sanogo get a goal
Still plenty of games to overtake Cesc in the assists table.
welcome back mesut. best news for the team by far. people who doubt of ozil are doubting the wrong person.they shoud ask t arsene how come he can’t take the best out him? mourinho did at madrid and low with germany. he came last season , and we were on top of the league t’il he got injured and ramsey too. do not underestimate his impact on the other players and in attracting top quality players in the club. i don’t think alexis would have come for example. santi & mesut can play together perfectly and swich positions when needed.… Read more »
When fit and on form, Mesut Ozil is the best no 10 in the world.
I’d take him over silva, cesc or whomever. Only person equal to him when on form is iniesta.
His off ball movement is crazy…passes are perfectly weighted.
Wit someone like Coq behind him, he’ll be able to inflict damage on the opposition.
First start since injury and he gets a goal…… yep, he’s total shit and Wenger out…… *rolls eyes*
I love that celebrating ozil scoring got a thumbs down….. Sad that he’s hated even when he’s great.