Arsenal face Chelsea tomorrow in a game that will more or less decide whether or not we can continue to fight for a top four place. Win and we cut the gap to 3 points, lose and it’s 9 – and you’d have to think that’s too big a gap to make up between now and the end of the season. Of course we could draw, and chug along looking to make up a more reasonable 6 point gap, but there’s a lot riding on this game for Unai Emery.
Performances have been flat of late, and in a big London derby we need to see a response from him and the players: evidence that he can get his team well prepared and, without wanting to deal too much in intangibles, up for it. In fairness, our record at home against big teams isn’t bad this season. We played very well against Liverpool and beat Sp*rs, and it was always easy to to compartmentalise the Man City game on the opening day.
We’ll preview that game in more depth tomorrow, but it comes off the back of a pretty remarkable revelation made by David Ornstein on Wednesday evening, in which he said that Emery had suggested to Mesut Ozil it would be best if he were to leave the club. His stance is seemingly backed by the Arsenal hierarchy, but it’s not an opinion shared by the player who has no intention of leaving. You can read exactly what he said here.
It’s not a complete surprise considering how peripheral Ozil has become as the season has progressed, and you don’t need to be a genius to know that things between the two are simply not working out. We’ve been over the possible reasons why that might be a hundred times so there’s no need to go down that road again, but I thought this little snippet from David’s broadcast was quite interesting:
He’s determined to work his way back into the side. The word was he wasn’t doing a lot of the extra work most players were, and he is now.
From the first day he took over Emery preached a message of ‘hard work’ and ‘working hard’. It’s been a consistent theme throughout his career, and players who haven’t bought into it have found themselves sidelined. I don’t believe the Ozil case is quite as black and white as that, there’s definitely been a personality clash over other issues, but if the net result is greater focus and commitment from the German then I think that’s the best we can hope for between now and May.
Even if we really, really wanted to, moving him on in January is nigh on impossible. It’ll even be very difficult this summer if that’s our plan, but this month is surely out of the question. I’m not sure I believe that this was Emery’s way of provoking a response from Ozil but if we get one then it’s time for the arch-pragmatist to consider what’s best for the team and for the club.
A team that badly needs creativity could use Ozil, even in a limited sense, and we have, at the time of writing, a lot to play for. It would protect the value of the asset from the club’s point of view, especially as we’re going to have to take some kind of financial hit to make a transfer happen in the summer if it comes to that. And finding some form might well convince potential suitors that Ozil is worth the outlay. It may well be an uneasy truce, but it’s time all parties came together to find some kind of resolution because it could help the team – and that should be the bottom line.
At his press conference yesterday, Emery played down the idea of a January departure, saying:
I’m not thinking about that. I’m thinking about how he can help us this year with good performances. He’s had injuries and not been okay to play matches, but now after these two weeks maybe this Saturday will be okay for him.
And his view of the 30 year old was made crystal clear:
I’ve also spoke to him because I want consistency. He’s had some injuries and these injuries mean that sometimes he is okay and sometimes he isn’t okay. I want every player to give the same work everyday to be okay for every match. With Mesut it’s the same. He didn’t play the last matches but to me he’s just like any other player.
Just like any other player. You can infer a lot from that, I don’t think we need to delve into it because we’re just going around the houses with this situation. It’s hard to see him start against Chelsea, having been out for so long, but an Arsenal team that needs three points on Saturday has a better chance of earning them if we have the strongest squad available to us – and in terms of talent, ability and creativity, Ozil has to be in it.
Emery also spoke about Sven Mislintat, saying he didn’t know if the Head of Recruitment was going to be leaving, but that they’d been working normally over the last few weeks. It doesn’t sound like there’s the kind of frequent contact you’d expect between a manager and the man tasked with finding transfer targets – particularly at this time of the year, so let’s see how it plays out.
As for potential transfers, the Spaniard said:
It’s not easy to take players who can help with more performance than the players we have now. The club is working .. but it’s not easy to take players who can help us with a big performance now. Transfers with something special can help us, and we are looking, with the possibility of one player and if we can take him to help us in one position on the field, maybe we can.
Sounds kinda familiar, eh? Denis Suarez is the one name that keeps going around, with suggestions a loan deal with a mandatory purchase option is being worked on, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
youaelmopr
0
Arsenal couldn't pay ozil 350,000 and then it's gets Ramsey 300,000 per week
youaelmopr
0
That's why the club had to offload Ramsey due high rates
huzeyfa18
0
Vix-vall
0
ResamPun
1
What about this...
[image]
not bad
RichmondDraman
2
What about this...
ResamPun
2
what about this lineup
Riuailmo
0
Arsenal Xl
Vehbmnyz
3
our must stop playing with players career and do his job and let the players do their job in the field of play period
Don_Arsenal12
1
My line-up for Chelsea will be an 'ok' team Lacazette as a alone striker , Aubemayang with Ramsey play good 1- 2 football . Torreia an aggressive player who will stop players like Hazard and Willian and with help with Bellerin and with Bellerin vision .Kolisinac is a fast player who can compete with Kante and Pedro so he is in the space of a great LB .Holding (hoping he recovered ) he is a great centre back with help of experienced Mustafi .Sokratis an elite Greek warrior who will help us defend well against Harzard and Willian .
oluwaremi81
0
I jst wish both them can work things out...we need ozil in d team nd d coach has a task of bringing d best out of every players in d team
Yehdlms
0
it's time to keep away the conflict of unai and ozil and help each other to make arsenal be great.we need the magisian technic of ozil in arsenal
Siubciprtz
0
ozil is better than the rest of the club
Mokadkos
3
What #Ozil@Unai hand Arsenal, he is the man with all credibility and accuracy passes, I think Unai is pushing away Ozil bcz #weekly salary wages# if we lose him #Ozil at Arsenal, the next exit will be Unai Emery. well wishers of Gunners let us stand for Ozil, guys pray for our own Mesut%
IsaacsQarterTomorrow
4
is iwobi better than ozil?? unai emery is useless
Mupklru
2
If Unai Emery succeed with his tough love on Mesut Ozil! We will have a very exciting journey towards the end if this season! I will personally apologise to him. He clearly stated that he does not think of getting rid of the player! All our players is looking up towards a motivated Ozil and on the counter he is bringing the best out of everyone, when he is on his best!
Tshaba
5
ozil z best only creativ prayer arsenal hv nw
heocdklo
0
If Mesut Ozil is half as good as people tell me he is why has literally not one single club offered him a way out? Especially when everyone knows Arsenal would sell for very little.
Check his statistics
Royanrsu
0
He’s now doing extra gym work & he has a positive demeanour. He’s determined to work his way back into the side
For 350k a week, he'd want to do something lol
Thoufey
0
If Mesut Ozil is half as good as people tell me he is why has literally not one single club offered him a way out? Especially when everyone knows Arsenal would sell for very little.
think same about ronaldo
uglyboy
3
If Mesut Ozil is half as good as people tell me he is why has literally not one single club offered him a way out? Especially when everyone knows Arsenal would sell for very little.
Oliviag
2
So Ozïl dont fit in the plans of Emery anymore, he can leave, something for Milan?
puyueer
1
What future does Ozil have at Arsenal?
Zackvsco
2
He’s now doing extra gym work & he has a positive demeanour. He’s determined to work his way back into the side
Banylon
2
He has no desire to leave, Ozil, so he won’t be leaving in January. I’m told he’s working extremely hard to get himself fit.
kamaai
1
Ramsey is off to Juventus for free. Mesut Ozil is being pushed out, Sven wants out. We can't spend. What's happening with my club?
yoos
2
Unai Emery says Mesut Ozil is still in his plans Arsenal and is hopeful he will be fit to face Chelsea.
Halereal
2
Arsenal want £35m Hirving Lozano to replace Mesut Ozil
citizenson
2
he's not being picked because he doesn't play defense. All of the top clubs, even the modern top clubs, have players who don't play both ends of the pitch. It's the manager's job to figure out how best to use them.
citizeno
1
He has no desire to leave, Mesut Ozil, so he won’t be leaving in the January transfer window. I’m told he’s working extremely hard to get himself fit.
Bastas
1
Ozil being forced out, Ramsey leaving, no money in the bank and Chelsea on Saturday
Bostons
1
e need Ozil for this one. Chelsea's defense is there for the taking and we have the attackers to make it count. Surprisingly feeling quite optimistic about this one.
starryen
3
I hope we see Ozil,Lacazette and Aubameyang start together today...go on the attack get the goals and show everyone
abofeuy
1
Ramsey & Ozil are leaving Arsenal Football Club, I’m not crying. Actually, I am.
typewriter
2
If Ozil and Ramsey can't fit into a system, the problem is the system. And when a system is the problem, it's the man behind the system..
ppp3669
1
Ramsey & Ozil leaving, Mislintat leaving, no money for transfers, 6 points off top4, nothing to be happy about, but it’s always good to mock Tottenham. My admin just tweeted this, I’m dead
Gloriouser
1
I’m sorry but playing Guendouzi & Iwobi ahead of Aaron Ramsey & Mesut Ozil will have cost us our top 4 place. There is absolutely no justification for leaving Aaron Ramsey out and starting Guendouzi, none at all.
Humancalculator
1
Humancalculator
1
THIS IS OUR BEST STARTING 11 TODAY AGAINST CHELSEA
judy01
0
Emery out
tucailprt
1
Today’s match will be 😋
[image]
Do the talking on the pitch. At the start of the season Sarri was saying Hazard will score 40+ goals. Aubameyang: Hold my beer. Lacazette: Watch your back bruv!
Itzfreeboy
3
Like
Itzfreeboy
1
Today’s match will be 😋