All of last season, Unai emery’s regime was mainly focused on his hiatus with Mesut Ozil. The Spaniard seemingly couldn’t find a way or reason to fix Mesut Ozil into his team. The beginning of this season proved much of the same, Unai Emery would rather see Joe Willock or even Lucas Torreira in the no.10 role than stick Mesut Ozil in it. The argument was that Ozil was not doing enough to warrant a place in the team, with every one having different views and opinions on the aforementioned claims.
With results not improving this season, Unai Emery was fired and as is always the case when a manager is fired, there were some players termed “winners” and some “losers” of the decision let go of the manager, with Mesut Ozil obviously falling in the Winners category, every one also hoping the forthcoming manager and replacement to Unai Emery would be able to get the best out of the charismatic German.
Freddie Ljungberg came in as interim manager, there was barely an upturn in results more so improvements in personnel ability, but after a few games a permanent manager was appointed, a former player and team mate of Mesut Ozil, a man who had captained the team to a trophy and knew what it was like to be an Arsenal player, Mikel Arteta.
Mikel Arteta’s regime has started with a bit of mixed feelings, while the results have been anything but improvements on those before his, the performances of the team have been quite impressive, most recently battling from a man down and a goal down to claim a deserved draw away at Stamford Bridge. Even more impressive since Arteta took the helm has been the personnel improvements, Granit Xhaka has been a man reborn, displaying the kind of form that convinced Arsene Wenger to fork out $41m on him, Lucas Torreira who had been considering an exit amidst a lack of game time and frequent misuse has been playing like a man possessed, the performances of David Luiz have been reminiscent of his prime years.
The man, though, who has taken center stage has been none other than Mesut Ozil, the former German player of the year has seen his performances praised of recent, a stark contrast to his performances under Unai Emery.
Mesut Ozil’s performances have certainly improved under Arteta, most of that improvement though have come in his work ethic, defensive deligence and commitment. His attacking output, though, which is where the team needs him more still leaves a lot to be desired, a whole lot. Mesut Ozil has taken in eighteen(18) appearances this season, recording no goals and a solitary assist, while many may point to the wastefulness of the strikers as a reason why his assists output are pitiful, his chances created aren’t inspiring either, he has created zero(0) ‘big chances’ till date, even his goals output are abysmal for an attacking midfielder.
According to Opta, Mesut Ozil has only taken 7 shots this season with none beating the opposing goal keeper, that is just not justifiable for an attacking midfielder.
Mesut Ozil has no doubt seen an upturn in form since the arrival of Mikel Arteta but it is perhaps telling that even his upturn in form is not good enough this days, for what he earns, more is rightly asked of Mesut Ozil and he is not producing that ‘more’, not yet at least.
