He’s injured and contract negotiations are on hold but Mesut Ozil says he’s still enjoying life in London and predicts Arsenal will turn around their poor form soon.
Eight defeats since mid-December has seen the Gunners’ chances of winning the Premier League and Champions League crushed and leaves Arsene Wenger’s squad with much work to do if they are to finish in the top four again.
Given the quality of the players at the Emirates, it’s a state of affairs that confuses Ozil, although he remains optimistic as they star down the barrel of a tough run in.
“We are having a difficult phase,” admitted Ozil in quotes carried by the Daily Mirror.
“Somehow something is not working with the team. We are letting in a lot of goals. Maybe it’s down to self-belief. When I look at the quality of Arsenal though I’m convinced we will get on a run again soon.”
The 28-year-old, speaking while away on international duty, also touched on his future, reaffirming Wenger’s stance that contract talks will resume in the summer.
“The fact is I’ve still got a contract in London,” he added.
“To speculate now would be wrong. At the end of the season we will see, there will be talks. I’m very happy at Arsenal and in London.”
Just for good measure, the World Cup winner also touched on the other big issue of the day – whether Arsene Wenger will sign a contract extension of his own.
“I don’t know what he will decide,” remarked Ozil. “That’s something we will have to wait for.”
Sign dat ting.
^ Yaa maaan! Do dat ting e’s tellin ya!
So much talent but nowhere near enough end product but is it him, his teammates or his coaching to blame?
Yep 19 assists last season is just not good enough
He can do better
So overall are you happy with Ozil’s contribution to the team as per his 42m move? Especially against the top 6 teams?
All three – he is a very good luxury player, but does not do enough of the donkey work (which is true of the whole midfield apart from Santi)
I reckon they are both waiting for the summer to sign, and will only do so if they are convinced by the manager and the board that we are going to bring in some massive signings to show some genuine ambition for the league and in Europe. If that is true, I don’t blame them.
The summer where we only signed Cech was a big turning point. That was the time to bring in a couple of top superstar players, to show that we really meant business.
Not that I don’t disagree, but even Suarez, Neymar and Messi wouldn’t have organised our team during setpieces against West Brom, or why we don’t press.
We need quality players, but people need to accept there are other tactical and coaching problems with the team and it’s playing style beyond just buying better players.
Interesting point, could he operate deep as an outlet for an ‘enforcer’ dm player? Ala Santi/Coq that seemed to work so well … Don’t think he has ever been used in that role. He has the skill and, like Santi, he isn’t meant to use muscle but technique.
I think with him and Sanchez it will ultimately come down to if we male top 4 or not.
I don’t think that’s enough at all. I don’t think its going to be enough even if we win the FA Cup. I think they’re both gone. We’ve offered them a solid like £200K a week, and if they’re saying no to that… kind of means there off.
They are gone if Wenger is gone! We might save them if we get a great replacement but with Wenger go a lot of our great players.
FA Cup is not a walk in the park, neither is fourth place and both look a stretch with the form we are in, it’s not the season all of us hoped for but it’s time for the fan base to quit turning on the team and just enjoy the rest of the matches.
My feeling from this whole thing is, Özil is gone if Wenger goes…Sanchez is gone if Wenger stays..
I dunno where I got this feeling, but its there, not gonna argue with it yet.
I think Tasmanian Jesus’ is a far more reasonable assumption to make than Mad’s based on recent evidence. Saying all our top players will go if Arsene goes might have rung true in the past but certainly doesn’t any more.
Most sensible talk!
You should become a doomsday prepper mate because you sure know it all! 🙂
Perhaps. I recently I renewed my car insurance, I got a retention discount as I renewed on the last day. They could have been advised to stay quiet until the summer so they can squeeze a bit more cash, or add some release clauses. A good decision if you are looking from the point of view as an agent. I find it suspicious that both players are holding off negotiations. They don’t share a contract but it seems their fates are linked. I bet both the players’ advisers have had ‘words.’ OR are the club offering Wenger a deal (among… Read more »
I think it is more about the money; they love Arsenal, they love London, they might even love AW — but we need to pay them the wages they could easily command at a rival club (they could easily earn well over 200k/week). I’m sure the manager situation will affect their decision-making process, too, but if we come up with big money, the big players will stay.
You say they love Arsenal but assess their situation as though they were mercenaries.
I didn’t mean to imply mercenary, rather that this is their (likely) last big contract and they are going to want get their absolute top value on a 5-year deal. Arsenal will have to stump up 200K/week to keep them I’m sure, and I think we’ll get that done; if Sanchez has caused trouble in the dressing room this year, that might affect the club’s offer to him, but we’ll likely never know if there is any truth to that. I have a good feeling we’ll secure them both, and controversial Frenchman, too.
A solid 280k per week was put on the table but still cant close a deal. Not many star players in PL earning that much.so its not really abt money in my opinion.its something else.
From where did you get that figure?
I think it’s more about stature than money. Particularly with Alexis. Top players want to win trophies
Up to these two to lead us to top 4 now not that they will wait and draw consequences.
so he’s just won the German national player of the year award again. The reason he doesn’t reproduce that form for us on a regular basis must be the quality of his teammates. To be brutally honest, most of them are bang average. And someone like Perez, who plays well when he gets a go, doesn’t get a game.
better coaching could improve things , but you’re right we have a lot of players that is not of arsenal quality. i dont know we keep them . some of our backup players would even struggle to be a first teamer at midtable clubs.
It’s a fans poll award, if you know Arsenal fans behavior that always winning an online pool, it makes sense Ozil won this award. Lol
I dont get why Perez doesnt play. At all.
Özil needs a certain structure to excel. He needs Santi in our team. Wenger knows this, but gambled – for the 1000th fucking time – on an older player with injuries.
I genually believe he wants to stay and sogn new conyract.
He wants to see firs i which direction the club is going and a promise that we will bring quality players.
Ozil’s comments always seem so bland and fine tuned for the media, you get the impression his people vet everything. Fair enough, he seems on the shy side and people jump on you for saying anything slightly controversial, but just doesn’t me for very intersting reading.
I love Ozil’s game. The team just just doesn’t play to his strengths. I hope he signs.
Hopefully Wenger can convince him to stay. I feel like of the two,we have a slightly better chance to work something out wioth Ozil. He has come in for a bit of unfair stick but if you look around the market, it isn’t easy to replace his talent. Preferably, we do not have to replace BOTH Alexis and Ozil. That could set us back as (you know Wenger), we may not put in enough to enhance the squad. If Ozil stays, we will have to replace Alexis, someone like Mahrez (if we can fight off Barca) would be ideal. Also… Read more »
Teams that won the PL since it existed never had Ozil and Sanchez in their ranks. We can do without them if we spend the money to recruit.
I think a new manager would get more out of Alexis and Özil.
Feel they will both jump to sign if Wenger was replaced by a manager with a proven record of success in the past few seasons.
do you even think before commenting? both of them came BECAUSE OF wenger….
Fabregas and Van Skunk also came because of Wenger too.
They were both kids when they joined, so not a fair comparison.
who? Pardew? Alladyce? or just anyone..
I was thinking we should give the Arsenal training ground doorman a go.
The way he talks about how happy he is in London makes me think that he might stay but move to Chelsea or in worst case scenario, s**rs
Chelsea could afford him but spuddies couldn’t. They have a tight pay structure which they can’t break whilst they have a stadium to pay for.
Would I be in a minority if I say that giving Ozil a mega contract just won’t be worth it. Here is my 2 bits on Ozil & Sanchez contracts. Lets say Arsenal are willing to offer Sanchez X and Ozil Y. However both want more. Sell Ozil, and then offer X+ Y to Sanchez (or atleast X + that portion of Y which is required to fill the gap between what Arsenal are offering Sanchez and what he wants). Feel tying down Sanchez needs to happen and it will be a terrible statement about Arsenal that the player who… Read more »
Alexis is only half as effective without Ozils form in recent games. Both need to sign.
If half the fans boo you (the team) in an attempt to get rid of the Manager you respect, I can understand form & confidence dipping. It has got to be hard to get motivated when your own fans are wanting failure to drive another agenda. I know they are professionals – but the atmosphere is clearly effecting the team.
As you can’t replace the fans the other answer is to replace the manager
Fans can replace themselves anyway!
True Fans will stay whatever the situation
Those who want Wenger out are not exactly deserting the club either.
Correct. They’re just dragging the club down…
The atmosphere has affected them the last 10 years, right ? Agree some fans have disgraceful behaviors.
Doesn’t everyone agree our away fans are amazing ? The way some people go on you would swear we are rubbish at home because of the fans & that’s why we’re not winning the league. We’re not winning the league because the manager & the players haven’t been good enough. It really is that simple. All the other excuses – injuries, the FA, referees, the fans – are minor/irrelevant in the overall scheme of things.
auf Wiedersehen, Mesut.
Ozil has it pretty good at Arsenal, insofar as Wenger is willing to place him in his preferred position, let him do (or not do) what he wants, and then build the team around that. From his perspective, a move to another club may require him to be more a ‘team player’ in terms of position and/or duties. Similar to how he started at Arsenal perhaps. So, he may have good reason to stick around if he can keep that sort of cushy position. But, from the Arsenal perspective, Ozil does pretty significantly restrain your tactical options. Of course, if… Read more »
Best quote so far. Couldn’t have said it anyways better.
Really well said- it’s really hard to see where he goes if he leaves given the use of a traditional number 10 really has dwindled in Europe at the top level.
I think Ozil has hit the nail on the head, about us conceding too many goals, we have conceded 3 or more goals 6 times this season. I originally thought the lost consecutive to Everton and City started the rot but even after then we picked up again. I think the 10 goals conceded against Bayern have just knocked the stuffing out of everyone, players, fans and the manager alike. Back to basics and let’s keep some clean sheets to give Ozil and Sanchez a chance of seeing some fruits from their play.
I like Ozil.
London was mentioned a lot.. Chelsea bound. Wouldn’t surprise me in the least.
When was the last time he even played?
For Germany yesterday
He is our Juan Sebastian Veron. A fabulous player who has not delivered as much as we wanted/hoped. Anyone who says otherwise is guilty of wishful thinking. And a true maestro could function without worldbeaters around him. He ain’t making it into any gooners all time 11, even squad any time soon. Unless you are 10 or think you should count assists like a religion including average corners etc…….
So many of our players coming out talking during this international break.I know they have let us down and everything is all doom and gloom at our club at the moment but consider this for a moment.Wenger has lost the dressing room, many fans think… Chelsea are on the verge of winning the league. Costa has made it public knowledge he wants the fuck out of there. Everton are looking good at the moment and on the up.but what’s there biggest story, Lukaku wants out. And there is many more examples I could give. Not one of our players in… Read more »
Yes, but none of them has answered Thierry Henry… “Is the Arsenal shirt too heavy for them?”
Arsenal need to hire Flamini back as a personal motivator for Özil.
We’ve got talent but we just need that bit more, our defence needs work it crumbles nearly all the time. We are a big club so we need to start competing like one and as for wenger…. I can see where people are coming from we need some top class signings and to hold onto the talent we’ve already got and most of all start getting silver wear.
I think Ozil will stay if we win the cup and Arsene stays. I think Alexis’ mind is made up, I just hope we sell him to a Chinese club for crazy money so he doesn’t come back to haunt us in the league or in the Champions League (ha!).
Agree with most on here that it seems Ozil would prefer to stay. A couple of people mentioning him moving to Chelsea, how would he fit into that system? Could he play the same position that Hazard/Pedro play, a kind of inside-winger role behind a striker? I’ve wondered for a while if he could play there for us if we were to adopt a similar system. I personally can’t see Conte going for him though. If worst comes to worst, we crash out of top 4 and don’t win the FA cup, and Ozil does decide to leave, where does… Read more »