A ‘tactical decision’ to leave a creative prodigy is not something to gulp down. No one would ever want to leave a player that provides creativity in the team, makes goal scoring chances and converts mistake into opportunistic goal. Unai Emery has been consistently criticised by the Arsenal fans for leaving Mesut Ozil out of the squad. This time was no rarity when the Spaniard left Ozil out of 18 man squad which led to Gunners losing the London derby against West Ham.
Before start of the game, it was believed that Mesut Ozil was still undergoing his period of knee injury and thus won’t be playing against Pellegrini’s side. However, later it was cleared by Unai Emery that Mesut Ozil was kept out of the squad due to tactical reasons.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright also insisted on ‘not understanding’ WHY Unai Emery is not playing Mesut Ozil.
Match of the Day pundit Wright said: “It’s really worrying. I know that Unai Emery has had his problems with big players in dressing rooms before and it seems like, to me, Ozil in this dressing room is the one he’s taking it out on.
“For Ozil not to be in the 18, whatever’s going on with them, I can’t get my head round that.
“That’s simply because he should be given the opportunity to play himself into form or get him on and he will play himself out on form. Then we will find out exactly what’s happening with Mesut Ozil.
“We cannot afford to have arguably the highest paid player in Arsenal’s history not even in the 18.
“After 60 or 70 minutes, they didn’t create anything at West Ham. I don’t think Arsenal are in a position where they can be leaving Mesut Ozil totally out the 18.
“He should be at least involved for me.”
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Emery told reporters: “I decided the players who are the best for this match. We win with him and lose with him. Not one player is for sale.”
The ‘tactical decision’ of leaving Mesut Ozil out has again back-fired for Emery and more so have led to raise eyebrows once again in the views of fans and critics. While Emery claims it to be a tactical reason many find it ill-resourceful.
Emery had further added,”He’s working this week normally. Like I said we win with him and lose with him. Today the decision is to come with these players.”
This was not the first time Emery had termed it a tactical reason of leaving Ozil out of the squad. The Arsenal Boss had left the German playmaker in the month of December too, against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup which indeed was a stab on his own back and led to Arsenal’s exit from the Cup.
Fans have been uneasy with Ozil’s absence and if Manchester United are to win against Tottenham Hotspur it would only add-on to fans fury as the win for Red Devils would mean them squaring on points with Gunners at 41, only goal difference keeping them behind.
Emery has to make the German world-cup winner a regular, if they feel a Champions League entry a necessity.
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