Mesut Ozil is trying to wield his power at Arsenal
Every Arsenal fan knows how much Mesut Ozil can control the way the Gunners play on the pitch. Now, it seems that the talented German maestro wants to control some of the club’s actions off the pitch as well. Ozil is pushing Arsene Wenger to sign another German attacker before he inks his own new deal with the club.
The German attacker, of course, is Wolfsburg midfielder Julian Draxler. He has fallen entirely out of favor with his Bundesliga club this season and that should lead to a January departure. The talented German attacker has long been a target on Wenger’s radar.
It’s almost certain that Arsenal were going to make a strong bid for Draxler’s services without Ozil’s input. However, it is interesting to learn that the current Arsenal number ten is reportedly making Draxler’s acquisition a requirement for him to renew his contract. If he’s successful, that could really complicate things with other Arsenal stars in the future.
What would Arsenal do if Alexis Sanchez decided he wanted a Chilean teammate in North London? While Draxler has long been a Gunners target, Ozil’s insertion into the situation could set a dangerous precedent for Wenger. Signing Draxler to finish off the Ozil deal might seem like a smart short-term move, but it could have significant long-term consequences.
In a sense, giving in to Ozil’s desire would be like allowing the inmates to run the asylum. One of the reasons Arsenal have continued their steady progression under Wenger has been his fiscal restraint. He hasn’t been afraid to make tough decisions about very popular players. The sales of players like Robin Van Persie and Samir Nasri are great examples of Wenger making the correct, but unpopular decision regarding a player’s transfer.
If his squad even believes he’s given up an ounce of control to one of the players on the squad it could open up Pandora’s Box in North London. While I joked earlier about what might happen if Alexis wanted a Chilean at the club, it is just the sort of situation that could arise. Anyone on the squad might try to come to Wenger with the same sort of demand.
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Imagine someone like Francis Coquelin making the signature of another player a condition of his contract renewal. If Wenger refused him, he could easily think he’s less important to the club than Ozil. While that’s undoubtedly true, it isn’t something the Gunners wish to make so obvious. Doing so is bad for squad morale.
The right solution for Arsenal here is to tell Ozil that their interest in Draxler is entirely separate from their contract negotiations with him. In fact, they should communicate it loudly enough that every other player on the squad hears the same message. If they start letting Ozil dictate transfers, it will be the end of Wenger’s time in charge of the club.