Serge Gnabry says Mesut Ozil is the perfect foil for his attacking teammates and tipped his World Cup winning compatriot to go from strength to strength now that he’s back to full fitness.
Ozil has been in sparkling form (3 goals and 2 assists) since returning in January from a three month injury lay-off; a spell during which the two Germans bonded in the gym as they undertook rehab on their respective knee problems.
“It’s because he’s healthy,” Gnabry told Arsenal Player when asked to explain Ozil’s recent performances.
“He’s back on the pitch and everybody loves to be back out there playing and competing on the pitch. I think that gives him a big boost to his potential he has already. Now it’s time for him to show it.
“He’s been out with injuries but I’m very happy that he’s back and has scored a couple of goals in the last games.
“We get along quite well and spend a lot of time together with training and hanging out a lot. The both of us just got through [being injured] together and it’s always nice to have someone next to you.”
Gnabry hasn’t featured for the first team in nearly a year having suffered knee ligament damage in March last year. However, reflecting on last season’s breakthrough season, the 19-year-old recalled the joy of playing alongside a player of Ozil’s exceptional quality.
“He’s one of the best playmakers there is in the world, and for me as an attacking player, it’s great to play alongside him and learn from him.
“It’s a lot easier to play with someone like Mesut because he can make you shine. I’m happy to be playing with him and learning from him.
“He’s very special. We’ve all seen what he’ve capable of. When he was at Madrid, in my eyes, he was one of the best playmakers in the world and still is up to now.”
Ozil is expected to start tonight against Monaco. Gnabry meanwhile will likely continue his fight for full fitness in under-21 games against Derby and Blackburn in March.
What’s up with “bigging” as a verb lately? Did I miss a memo somewhere?
Language evolves, regardless of your attendance at fictional meetings.
One of the many cringe-worthy phrases/words journos and footballers use these days.
I hate “player x lauds player y”
I don’t know why but that word “lauds” boils my piss
And the expression “transfer window slams shut”
Argh
First world problems
Forgive my pedantry Cornelius, but It’s ‘bigging up’. it means much the same thing as ‘talking up’. Perfectly acceptable turn of phrase.
‘Bigging’ is also a verb but means something totally different, and is actually really hard to do. For one thing you need a Zoltar Speaks machine and they’re really rare.
A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man!
Looking forward to having Gnabry back in contention but I really don’t have a clue where minutes on the pitch are going to come from. What a lovely headache for Arsene this is turning into.
Is it just je or does Mesut really, really sound like the sort of guy you’d want to be mates with? RvJudas will never be what he is but he was being a total prick to youngsters like with Ramsey, on top of being a snot-ball blowing douche in general. Hard to imagine him taking a young compatriot under his wing like that, especially going throuh injury rehab together.
He also said that he went to see him play when Gnabry was 10 and got a picture. So some history there.
I have high hopes for Serge, especially if he is getting fed by Ozil (with the ball). Small, quick, v skilful – the next Sanchez if he can find the same energy levels.
Speaking of which, anyone watch the brief football focus extra thing with Keown and Beattie today? Keown said he was at the training ground over the weekend (or some time recently) and loads of players were given days off. So was Sanchez but he came in anyway and trained. Thing I like most is that there’s none of the Podolski PR nonsense alongside it- he does what he does simply because he’s that kind of man. Someone needs to get onto Red Action and get him a proper song asap!
He trains when he wants, he trains….
“He came to us from sunny Spain, Sanchez, Sanchez
He hates the scum from down the Lane, Sanchez, Sanchez,,
He came to live in London town, he turned the fucking scousers down,
Alex-Is-San-Chez, Arsenal’s 17”
Remember reading that on Arseblog over the summer but have only heard it once or twice at games and it never really catches on. Which is a shame as it’s pretty good (as far as Arsenal chants go which are, if we’re honest, pretty terrible on the whole!).
It kind of died when it became apparent he wanted to be called Alexis and not Sanchez
Ummmm….he’s not from Spain, he’s from Chile. Might be pretty insulting to him if he heard this coming from the fans.
http://dailycannon.com/2015/02/when-10-year-old-serge-gnabry-met-mesut-ozil/
If Ozil can instill some of his playmaking into someone like Gnabry with his frightening combination of pace, power and technique, he could end up an absolute monster.
The thought of having to defend against a team of Ox/Gnabry/Welbeck/Sanchez in a few years time, with all the physicality and abilty they have, it would send most defenders into a fit of nerves.
I second Gnabry’s opinion on özil in his Madrid days. 36 assists in his last season with Madrid. That on its own is enough to warrant the stamp as one of the best playmakers around in the world. Here is hoping he starts notching up similar numbers for us. Plenty of goal threat upfront now, so dont see why not. 🙂
Easy though at Madrid, you just boot it over the top, Ronaldo runs onto it and scores. I could do that.
Though seriously, I agree, he is fantastic and will probably make the difference tonight (or Santi will).
“We get along quite well and spend a lot of time together with training and hanging out a lot. The both of us just got through [being injured] together and it’s always nice to have someone next to you.”
So that’s why we have so many injures… They don’t like to be there all alone.
Alexis wo oh
Alexis wo wo oh oh
He came from sunny Spain
He shits on Harry Kane
To the tune of Vieira
Though he doesn’t actually come from Spain.
Otherwise pretty good (‘For defenders he’s a pain’ instead?).
He came from Spain is different from he comes from Spain
Good pedantry! Though both are possible to argue, depends on the timescale.
Though still don’t like it as much as mine…
Best no 10 in the world when fit and in form. Would take him over cesc, silva, eriksen and coutinho anyday of the week.
Still feel he’s yet to truly “explode” though.
When’s Diaby back?
“The both of us just got through [being injured] together and it’s always nice to have someone next to you.”
That made me think of Diaby. The poor guy must have a permanent job at Arsenal as the ‘someone next to you’.
Adrian Durham said “gooners laugh at Diaby” what a cunt!
Adrian Durham is a nump