Unai Emery says he’s working hard to get the best out of Mesut Ozil and insists the player agrees that he has more to give.
In the 109 minutes that the German has played this season, he’s yet to make an assist. According to the Premier League’s data, and somewhat more surprising, he’s not yet created a big chance for his teammates or even made a successful through ball.
For a player who has 50 assists to his name in the league since signing from Real Madrid five years ago, it’s something of a concern.
On the plus side, Emery is sure he can fix things.
Ahead of Saturday’s match with Newcastle, the Spaniard explained: “The reason we are working is to prepare each match with our players to have the possibility to arrive in Newcastle in the best condition for every player.
“That’s the same for Mesut. He working well. He is OK. I want to push them, I want to be demanding to prepare this match – Mesut the same.
“I want to find with him the possibility to do the best, to make decisive passes, to do more near and in the box to score. Also I think he is working for the team to help us with his quality.
“But he is feeling like I am feeling. He can improve, he can do more. In this process, we will work, we will help him, give him the possibility on the pitch to be together, to find his qualities for us.”
Emery also seemed to suggest that he’ll continue to deploy Ozil on the right of his attack, although he knows the player also thrives in a central position behind the strikers.
“In his career Mesut played like a 10 and on the right, coming inside with his quality,” he added.
“Here he has played both. He is very convinced about that in my conversations with him about it. I usually give players the position they feel the best. Mesut is in these two positions.”
We all can improve. Even me in some minor ways.
Certainly not in your ability to comment first on every single article. Seems like you’ve got that one mastered
Arseblog send me the text alerts warning about each article, that helps a lot.
Either that or I don’t have that much of a life.
The latter might be something to improve on…very minor though
Minors generally haven’t had much of a life. Usually just a matter of time.
Arsenal is life bro. Relax.
ha, a blind man could see that ozil needs to improve
Not as much as Wilshere, you twat.
Return of the troll.
Fantastic picture with this article.
Me, I’ve always thought that the hurly burly of prem league doesn’t suit an aspect of Ozils game, that, whereby he gets bullied off the ball and we lose possession.
If the manager can improve the player in this regard, we still have a jewel on our hands……….difficult tho, to get a leopard to lose those particular spots.
He has still reached 50 assists in the premier league faster than anyone. He has also created the most clear cut chances of anyone since he arrived at Arsenal. It just seems like these physical stuff just looks like it is getting in his way, whilst he is thriving without anyone noticing.
I do think with PEA and Lava upfront, he can improve on his stats.
Would much rather that he sticks to his position as the number 10. Feels like he is wasted on the right wing, where Mkhi has done better this season.
Mesut and Ramsey should be rotating as the number 10 where they thrive.
I totally agree, Mkhitaryan is far better suited to the right. I would suggest two holding midfielders; Torreira & Guendouzi with Ozil in front.
PEA on the left and Lacca up front!
Ramsey should be Ozil’s understudy, while Xhaka needs to learn how to defend!!
The problem is Ramsey provides all the pressing and off-the-ball running that Ozil doesn’t.
But Ozil provides all the creativity and passing vision that Ramsey doesn’t.
But it’s all in Ozil’s hands, because it’s easier for him to become better at pressing and off-the-ball movement than Ramsey is at gaining Ozil-like vision and passing technique.
The other problem is the club is trying to lock Ramsey down to a new deal… Ozil’s already secured.
Granit HAS been defending much better. You need to watch the game better.
All the blame apportioned to Granit for the Cardiff goal but the cross field ball was a great option just kis hit. YET we had plenty of players back to deal with the issue. MONREAL lost Camarasi who turned him too easily. The Lback should have been aware of the space behind him.
Yet people like to toss off to Monreal istead (who was also BTW too far off Ward for their second).
So who needs to learn to defend?
Spot on.
More politics.
not so much has changed since Wenger.
As for Ozil v Ramsey, at the moment, Ramsey is providing output both in provision further forward but also in defensive work.
I would argue Ozil if anything will have to prove he can displace Ramsey.
I don’t understand why you drop Xhala, I know he can’t defend, but we can’t progress forward without him
How do some people always get a dig in on Xhaka? Look at his stats, this season he has been our most effective passer of the ball. Listen to the latest Arsecast where James talks about this.
Ozil produced his most consistent form in an Arsenal shirt before he signed his new deal, it’s not an exaggeration to say he’s not put in 1 top performance since.
He’s done nothing to warrant a starting role, and whilst Mkhitaryan goes missing and is a little erratic, he does produce plenty of end product.
If Ozil got pushed out to Turkey in January? I wouldn’t be at all surprised, or in the least bit disappointed
The midfield was disjointed.
……………………………..Laca/Welbeck……………………………..
Auba/Iwobi……………….Ozil/Ramsey…………………..Mhki/????
……………….Granit/Elneny……….Torreira/Guendouzi…………..
Monreal/Kola………………………………………Bellerin/Lichsteiner
………………Papas/(Koscielny)…………Mustafi/Holding………….
……………………………..Cech/Leno………………………………….
I think the right side fundamentally could have done with Nelson as an alternate.
AMN is on the mend. Perhaps in yet another role, we can push him to a right side wing berth. He has the pace and isn’t afraid to dribble through on goal either.
Other option is to push Bellerin forward with Lichsteiner protecting.
Mhki and Bellerin are developing a good relationship on that right hand flank attacking wise…they still struggle defensively though. Why destroy that trying to fit in Ozil who is just decent on the right but offers bellerin less protection? Play Ozil as a 10 only. If he doesn’t perform there, take him out of the team. Gonna give Emery time but attempting to please the “big boys” of the team could be his downfall. He was bold in bringing in Guendouzi into the team who has performed well and is fast becoming a fans favorite. He needs to enforce meritocracy… Read more »
Ozil (like Ramsey) is best in the hole behind the striker in a semi free role.
The trouble is we are again trying to appease both Ramsey and Ozil and fit them into a system which may not be best for us tactically.
So not so much has changed since Wenger.
At least it’s out in the open now. I like that Emery has this openness regarding players and tactics. We can all see ozil’s faults but if Emery can get him fireing those killer passes, along with goals that wil also take some pressure of the defense. Up to ozil now with our support to find his mojo. coyg
I feel like we’re missing a potent duo in Mkhi and Bellerin by putting Ozil on the right. Alas, we only have 11 players on the pitch. Good headache for Emery though.
Laca is in good form, and you’d never want to bench Auba, so I think we’ll see more of the 4222 we played second half against Cardiff. Mhki would compete with Rambo for a spot alongside Mesut.
Danger in 4-2-2-2 is its narrow. Often it means both Cbacks are wide apart potentially covering the space left behind by the fullbacks… which creates a danger in the middle. That’s where a Torreira will come in to cover centrally with less involvement going forward. I feel we have need for two appraoches. We play two types of teams. Those who sit back bc they feel they can’t compete in open competition with us and therefore look to hit on the break and those who can take it to us (if not dominate us a little) With the former, 4-2-2-2… Read more »
Interesting that Emery specifically highlights getting Ozil’s Offensive game up and running, not what seems to be the moan de rigueur, his defensive side.
It’s almost as if he wants to capitalize on Ozil’s big qualities, rather than kill them by focusing something that is secondary to his role.
Ozil and Ramsey play their best behind the striker in a semi free/creative role. Which keeps us at a 4-2-3-1 If we go to say a 4-1-3-2 with two up top, then Ozil’s qualities defending are more a liability. BUT I think the base set is a 4-2-3-1 with room for expression and interchange in formation throughout the game (much like with Wenger) We don’t want rigor when attacking, this is where Wenger’s free form is most effective in affording the players full interpretation. Its in the defensive phase where we need drill and direction which was where Wenger was… Read more »
With so called ‘luxury players’ like ozil you’re often better up maximising strengths rather than trying to work on weaknesses. Especially at 29
He’s definitely gifted. Just needs to be able to take leadership more but part of it is his make up.
Still he has some years to go and can get better yet.
Whilst I think (like many things) he’s off ball work rate or lack thereof is often over exaggerated by people who like to look for faults in certain players over their merits, he needs to justify the huge pay cheque and play a bigger role for us.
He can do it but he has to keep his head up a little particularly when the going gets tough.
As for midfield, yeah I think we should see Torreira start this weekend.
He looks up to speed last game. Granit- Torreira should start but Guendouzi should also be in contention.
As I mentioned before, midfield is not a ZERO sum game.
We WILL need all 3 players to play a role and perform up to par if we are to meet the gaffer’s expectations in sustaining a press for 90 minutes.
This goes for the peripheral figures in AMN and Elneny too.
I love this man, I think he has this big plan for himself and Arsenal to succeed by all means possible ???
Let him relax little bit. He has gone thru a lot of stress and mishappenings. Treat him like a normal human being not a super natural human who is not affected by the extreme events. It is not easy to go thru such miserable situation. Premier league just started and give him some time to improve. Don’t judge him in just 2, 3 games. The media is hostile now a days….
Özil is such a special player. When in form he can transform an entire team just with his passing and football IQ. But in an off-day, it feels like we have only 10 players on the pitch…