Arsenal: Unai Emery is beginning to assert his authority on Mesut Ozil
By Kian Long
The new Arsenal boss Unai Emery expects more from his star play-maker Mesut Ozil.
It usually does take new managers time to familiarize themselves in new environments. But Unai Emery hasn’t wasted any time at Arsenal, as he already seems to be barking orders at his players, in particularly Mesut Ozil. In fact, he’s probably shouted more from the touchline than Arsene Wenger did throughout his two decade tenure.
But, according to The Mirror, Emery hasn’t taken things lightly behind the scenes either. He has reportedly told Ozil that he must work harder in order to solidify himself a place in the Arsenal setup. And rightly so, given Ozil’s countless absences this year.
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He’s had a tough summer, with everything going on surrounding the German national team. He sent out a statement saying that he would retire from international football, given the racist treatment from fans and professionals alike. This is devastating, and it’s bound to have some impact on the way a player thinks.
That said, one could easily take the perception of Emery being too harsh on Ozil. In fact, some fans have even gone a step further into the conundrum…
Mesut Ozil’s illness is that he is sick of Arsenal
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) August 25, 2018
Jokes aside, Arsenal seemed to manage well without him at West Ham. This will no doubt play on his mind and persuade him to strive for better things. As a player, watching from the sidelines or from home as your team dominate a match must be painful to watch.
Arsenal come up against Cardiff City next match. While this is quite a sentimental fixture to Aaron Ramsey, Ozil will look to retain his place in the starting XI. However, I feel like Unai Emery may play him on the bench if he is available for action.
When Ozil does come back and he is full of confidence, Arsenal will know about it. He is a very creative player, and a large portion of the controlled attacking play runs through him. If Unai Emery does decide to compact the midfield, then Ozil will be the figurehead to all things positive. Don’t be fooled, he is still the main man.
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Do you think Mesut Ozil can turn his poor start to the season around?