They haven’t had the opportunity to line-up next to each other too often in the last four years so the sight of Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere playing slick football together in the 4-1 win over Crystal Palace was a treat for the Emirates crowd.
The two midfielders put on a 22-minute masterclass in intricate attacking play as Arsenal romped to a four-goal advantage in the first half, including a lovely combination that helped Alex Lacazette net the Gunners fourth goal.
“I’ve said before that he [Ozil] understands football so well, and that’s what makes him one of the best,” Wilshere told Arsenal.com after the game.
“He knows when to play it to you, what side to pass to, and everything he does is quality. He makes it easy. I really enjoyed that little spell in the first half.”
While question marks hang over Ozil’s future at the Emirates – the World Cup winner is six months away from being a free agent – Wilshere is expected to sign a new deal at the Emirates in the coming days and weeks. More comings and goings are expected before the transfer window closes with Alexis Sanchez likely to follow Theo Walcott and Francis Coquelin out the door.
Despite the personnel changes Wilshere thinks Arsenal have enough quality to put right a very poor start to 2018.
“It’s difficult when people like Theo and Francis leave – they’re big characters in the dressing room and I’ve known them for a long time. We’re going to miss them and wish them all the best. But as a team and as a club we need to move on.
“Whoever comes in, whoever leaves, we’re strong enough to deal with it as we have in the past. We need to put in performances like we did today and start climbing up the table.”
He also agreed that securing three points today was a good marker for the coming weeks.
“Yeah, I think so, and that’s what we can do. We can do our talking on the pitch. As I said, we haven’t been good enough – we have to accept that and hopefully now we have that result we can really push on.”
Sanchez is a goalscorer, albeit a very good one.
But Ozil makes the whole team tick and makes everyone else around him better, especially when he’s on form.
Give him the money we didn’t want to give to Sanchez, without Ozil we look slow and lethargic.
jack makes ozil look good
I thought Jack and Ozil look totally on the same wavelength today and would be great to see them build on that partnership with such fluid, fast one-touch football.
Imperative that we keep Mesut, he’s been class this season. Bringing in new signings will mean nothing if we don’t keep Ozil and it’s unthinkable that he joins Sanchez.
Pay the man his money. Stop fucking around. We need Ozil and he needs our style of play. We have been missing the double play makers in the center of the pitch, Wilshere and Ozil were sublime. If Ozil leaves, it shouldn’t be because Arsenal refused to pay him what he wants.
That will end when Wenger’s beloved son will return to fitness…
I’ve also thought of that, back to Ramsey with his four touches, slow everything down and then try to outdo the strikers. His play doesn’t suit the rest of the team and if he also starts demanding a big contract he should be sold.
Do we get champions league football if we win Europa?
Ozil: “everything Jack does is quality”
Agree with midgunner completely, essential we sign Ozil! We can’t let him go, especially to ManUre!
Can’t believe some people were ready to let Jack go to effin Betis for some 8m in the summer. Brilliant first half again.
As for Ozil… no words needed anymore.
Jack, Özil, Mikhi, Laca and Auba in one team? Please don’t wake me up from the sweet dream!
Draxler……………Lacazette…………….Mahrez …………..Jack………………..Ozil………………. ……………………….Granit……………………… That’s a sweet dream. Mahrez for practically same price as Aubameyang. Draxler considerably more but what a future with this guy who can eventually cycle into the middle and plays with both feet. But yet again we are doing things on the cheap. The scouting team rather than working on deals for players that will properly balance the team out are going for solutions within their reach that may not necessarily be best option. Mhykitarian for one of our best players who has scored heaps and provided us with that ‘surprise’ element. Instead we get a United… Read more »
WTF go back to playing whatever game you play.
“It’s difficult when people like Theo and Francis leave – they’re big characters in the dressing room…
Blasting Sanchez here surely?
It was subtle, but I’d read that in Theo and Francis they might not give as much/perceived to give as much on the pitch off the pitch they are bigger characters than Sanchez. I think if we can retain both Jack and Ozil, signing Aubameyang will be enough to augment what Sanchez provides. Given Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan’s previous partnership while they were at Dortmund together, we might just look back on this as a master stroke albeit a somewhat clumsy and fortuitous one. Certainly wasn’t planned ? We might just be ok (attacking wise). Defensively, we need to bring in… Read more »
Maybe because Alexis hasn’t officially left yet?
“It’s difficult when people like Theo and Francis leave – they’re big characters in the dressing room …”
Hahahahaha
Have some of that, you piranha-looking bastard!
I think you were trying to point out that he didn’t mention Alexis as a big character, but you lost me at the piranha-looking bit. Regardless, love the slight dig by JW10. Can’t wait to see the lads take turns kicking the shit out of Alexis in April!
Jack did something similar when RVP left, along the lines of ‘very proud to wear the no.10 shirt, which has been worn by a club legend like Bergkamp’ !
Though I just remembered that he still hasn’t technically left. So it might not be a dig after all.
Hahah I had just copied the same extract to point out that Wilshire didn’t consider to mention Sanchez even as an after-thought…
That seems like a deliberate omission and speaks volumes…
Speaking like a captain. Give him the armband from next season. Give him number 7 so Mesut can have number 11…
10?
The captain’s band has been a curse in recent years. Maybe we can give it to Gunnersaurus.
JW7
M10
HM11
PEA14
?
Go on bloggs, you know how much we love a squad numbers article!
But jack isn’t a winger, he should get 4. JW4, now that’s classy.
Should do M25
No-one deserves that!
?…. Laca9. You’re welcome.
I just pray we can hold onto Ozil. He has been brilliant this season and he is such a joy to watch. Honestly, I think he is the most graceful footballer I’ve ever seen.
Dennis will have words
Mesut and Dennis have rather different styles. Yes, they can both pick a pass, and have a natural instinct for the play; but Dennis was a fighter and mixed his silky control with a hard streak, Mesut is, as Bobby says, pure grace; he’s only just beginning to develop a tougher side now he’s been in the PL for a couple of years.
I love them both.
Love them both. I want to see that replace the Good Dogs banner.
Sign them up ASAP! Jersey no 10 jersey to Özil and no 4 to Jack (also make him deputy Capt to Kos) and let’s win the league!
JW 4
MÖ10
HM 11
PEA 7
4?
Here’s hoping Ozil signs a new contract
Mykit ozil wilshere Iwobi .creatively not bad..with Auba comin and lacazette scoring also lookin good. What abt the Big Man with a presence in the MF. #coyg
Give that man the armband!
In and outs shock the team out of Apathy…Theo, Coq and Sanchez leaving should wake everyone up.
Jack and Ozil had me making weird noises in that first half.
Captain Jack!
methinks no mention of the big character Sanchez (and his influence on the dressing room) was a deliberate omission from the leaver’s list, says it all
Jack is usually very considerate in what he says. Given Alexis leaving is pretty much a done deal, I too think it speaks volumes albeit subtle.
Wenger has pretty much confirmed it: “he cannot drive up north and play football at the same time”
Mourinho has pretty much confirmed it: “so close, so close, so close”
Medicals are taking place today/tomorrow. So come Monday evening both should be announced.
I agree though, Jack for captain.
was that tongue in cheek jack, its ok jack he is not a patch on you, you are still the best
Yeah, even when he appears to not be present, yet somehow, simultaneously appears on the starting eleven. Yeah, that seriously requires a special talent.