Playing for 90
Fansided

Arsenal players are starting to turn on Mesut Ozil

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Hull City at Emirates Stadium on February 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Hull City at Emirates Stadium on February 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Arsenal players think Ozil gets preferential treatment

Last week, we brought you the story that the Arsenal dressing room is starting to turn on Arsene Wenger. This week, reports from North London claim that Gunner players are turning their attention to Mesut Ozil. Arsenal players believe he gets special treatment from manager Arsene Wenger.

In fairness to the Gunners squad, they are probably right. The German midfielder is the only Arsenal attacker who doesn’t seem to ever be subbed off by Wenger. His contemporaries such as Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alex Iwobi frequently find themselves leaving the pitch before the full 90 minutes are up.

Of course, everything would be fine if Ozil was playing up to last year’s standards. His mediocre play as of late is a big reason the squad’s attack has begun to sputter. Even worse, his teammates are concerned with the German ace’s lack of effort on the defensive end of the pitch.

If we’re honest here, we have to admit that Wenger is in a tough spot. Ozil is the type of player that looks pretty bad when his offensive tactics aren’t coming off. He is never going to be what you’d call a physical defensive presence. Jose Mourinho might even refer to him as a luxury player.

More from Playing for 90

Even more perplexing for Wenger, is the lack of another number ten in the squad. If you accept that Alexis Sanchez needs to play up top, there isn’t another natural midfielder to play behind him centrally. Alex Iwobi might become that sort of player, but he isn’t there yet. Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott are both clearly better off playing on the wing.

Perhaps things would be different if Jack Wilshere were still at The Emirates. He isn’t an ideal number ten, but he would give Wenger a legitimate alternative to playing Ozil every week. At the very least, he’d provide his manager with a legitimate option off the bench.

Ultimately, the tension in the dressing room with Ozil is only going to be resolved in one of two ways. The German star will either regain his top form and silence his critics, or he’ll force his way out of the club this summer. It’s not inconceivable to think this tension might make Ozil more likely to leave the club.

Next: Tottenham drama: Hugo Lloris blasts teammates

Expect to see more reports of discord in the Arsenal dressing room if the Gunners keep struggling. The only thing that can silence these reports is stringing three or four victories together.

Home/Arsenal FC