ARSENAL’S seventh defeat in their last ten Premier League games stoked up the great Mesut Ozil debate.
Should Mikel Arteta end the midfield misfit’s exile, or let him run down his £350,000-a-week contract sitting in the stands?
Mesut Ozil made 18 Premier League appearances for Arsenal last seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Apart from a gift of a penalty — converted by Nicolas Pepe — and a deflected David Luiz shot that hit the woodwork after Jordan Pickford spilled the ball at his feet, the Gunners never looked like scoring.
There was not much joy in defence either, with skipper Rob Holding scoring at the wrong end and Yerry Mina allowed the freedom of Goodison Park to head home Gylfi Sigurdsson’s corner in first-half stoppage time.
But it is Arsenal’s failure to open up opposing defences that is their biggest worry.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed this game with a calf injury that could keep him out for two weeks — but he would probably not have seen much of the ball anyway.
Arteta’s first year in charge has ended with his team looking anxiously over their shoulders at the relegation places.
They should have enough firepower to pull clear once they put their best team on the park — although the game is littered with stories of fallen giants who were ‘too good to go down’. However, they so desperately need a short-term fix.
So is the enigmatic but undoubtedly talented Ozil the answer? And would Arteta look weak and indecisive if he goes back on his pre-season call to have nothing more to do with the 32-year-old who is out of contract at the end of this season?
Arteta’s decision not to name Ozil in his 25-man Premier League squad was a big decision. Whether to bring him back next month is an even bigger one.
Mikel Arteta’s side are 15th in the Premier League table Credit: EPA
His dilemma was summed up by Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp and Graeme Souness.
Redknapp reckons recalling Ozil is a ‘no-brainer’, while Souness warned a U-turn now would be fraught with danger.
Redknapp said: “No creativity again. I feel for the manager. There are so many problems right now with this team, it’s hard to put your finger on which one is worst.
“He’s got another problem now, with people saying, ‘Should you bring Mesut Ozil back in?’. For me, of course you have to.
“It’s a no-brainer — you are not creating chances. Does the manager look weak bringing him back in? Some might say yes. Not for me.
“If you were creating chances and losing games I’d say of course you don’t get him back.
“But you need someone who’s going to spot a pass for the likes of Aubameyang, especially in matches like the one against Burnley the other night.
“I think Arteta tried to make a statement by not naming Ozil in his original squad. But sometimes you have to take it on the chin.
Jamie Redknapp reckons recalling Ozil is a ‘no-brainer’Credit: Getty – Contributor
“Just use him while you’ve got him. Being in the position they’re in without turning to Ozil, it doesn’t make sense to me.
“People talk about Arsenal in relegation trouble but once they get Thomas Partey back in midfield and get Aubameyang and Gabriel back, of course they’re not going to get relegated.
“They will improve. But right now, to not create chances in these games is just not good enough.
“They look short of quality in every department. And no one is taking responsibility.
“I look at David Luiz. When he’s at the top of his game he is one of the best around. But when he’s not quite right, when he’s only looking after himself, you can see the reaction of the other players. It just transmits to everyone else.”
Ozil hinted that Arsenal’s current predicament is hurting him by tweeting heartbroken and crying emojis after the game.
But Souness said restoring Ozil to the side would be a backward step — and swing the balance of power firmly in the player’s favour.
He explained: “If you bring him back in now, he’s coming back on his terms.
“I would imagine the manager spoke to the directors about the situation when they left him out at the start of the season.
Graeme Souness warned a U-turn now would be fraught with dangerCredit: Getty – Contributor
“And they’ve obviously given the green light to leave him out. They have shown trust in their manager.
“It was a big decision — ‘I’m going to park him up’.
“Without a shadow of a doubt people will be questioning that decision now.
“So do they bring him back? It would be difficult for him to do it and save face.
“You’ve got a guy involved in his very first job in management — and this would be a difficult job for an experienced manager.
“I’m not sure I’d bring him back if I was in that position.
“It diminishes his credibility with some of the players in that dressing room, and they could use that against him.
“More importantly, he’s got to get some of his men to front up — if he’s got any men.
“Because in football terms I’m talking about people who will stand up and take responsibility, look at themselves first and foremost and not be pointing fingers,
“And I’m looking at that group and I’m not sure there’s too many of them.”
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Arteta says Arsenal’s performance in the Premier League is not good enough and not acceptable
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
