Arsenal is presently in a conundrum. Two marquee players entering their final year of contracts. There are rumors about rifts in the dressing room led by Sanchez, and Ozil suffering from a never ending flu which has raised eye brows about his future as well.
But where do Arsenal go from here? Can Arsenal keep hold of both of them? Will Arsenal persuade at least one of them to stay? If yes, who would that be?
Sanchez for one has had a great season, used as a CF for most of the season, over 15 goals and 9 assists make him the undisputed player of the season at Arsenal. A gladiator who fights for every ball, wants to win the ball back and wants to score in every game. Considering he hasn't had a summer break since he joined Arsenal in 2014 because of his international excursions ( World Cup in 2014, and Copa America in 2015 and 2016), its commendable that he has sustained his power football for most of the season.
But is Alexis irreplaceable? I do not think so. Yes he is the best Arsenal have got and hence he will shine among st the mediocrity alongside him. He does have a huge selfish side to him. His attitude when he gets substituted, his overall demeanor on the pitch are some of my personal concerns. No question he is a world class player and I would certainly keep hold of him but not as a center forward but as a player on Arsenal's left.
As far as Ozil is concerned well he has been an enigma since he joined in 2013. Had 19 assists last term and started this term with hosts of goals. The solo effort in Bulgaria comes to mind but his goal scoring start this season has been over-shadowed by instances of 'laziness' at the Etihad and the Alianz.
I would keep Ozil. There's no #10 like him available in the market and genuinely Arsenal and Wenger haven't bought a CF who could have brought the best out of Ozil. Ozil is a power passer who needs runners when he has the ball in control. In the last 3-4 years Ozil has played with Giroud, Sanchez, and very meagerly with Welbeck and Walcott in front of him.
After having played 104 games for Arsenal, he has scored 20 goals, an average of a goal every 5 games. Not bad for a player who has never been prolific. He averaged somewhat similar in a free scoring Real side (19/105 games). When we talk about assists, he has 37/104 matches in the Premier League( which is the best ratio ever in the Premier league era above Eric Cantona and Cesc Fabregas in the top 3) and he had an assist record of 47 in 105 matches at Madrid.
The most astounding statistic is the chances created piece. Ozil created 324 chances for his forwards in his 105 games for Real in the La Liga, that's an average of 3 per game and in the premier league he has created over 370 chances in 104 games. When you compare these numbers you'd feel Ozil individually has improved his game. His goals have increased and so have his chances created and assists have remained the same. Remember he has come to a much more physical league than what he encountered in Spain. Games are much more tighter and far more competitive.
What has been missing for Ozil has been a couple of human arrows in the team. Human Arrows in the form of a Ronaldo. Ronaldo who always makes the run behind the opposition defense with a trust that Ozil will find him if he does make that run. Most of the current forwards in exception to Welbeck ( but he has spent more time on the treatment table) don't make that forward run when Ozil is in possession of the ball. This includes Sanchez who doesn't do it consistently enough. Sanchez most of the time wants the ball to be played at his feet. With Giroud its the same.
I will make a claim which would mean I face the flack of many Arsenal fans from across the world. Ozil would have been better than what Bergkamp achieved at Arsenal. Consider this, Bergkamp had the privilege of working alongside forwards like Anelka, Henry, Reyes, and wingers in the shape of Pires, Ljungberg who always trusted the 'Flying Dutchman' to find them when they made that run.
My opinion- very simple. Keep Ozil. But before that what Arsenal need is a manager who can convince him to stay. Ozil is someone who needs to be trusted. I do not want him to tackle and run around like Sanchez does. that's not why Arsenal paid 42 million quid for him.
Jose Mourinho used Hazard in a 4-2-3-1 on the left wing and expected him to track back and help the left back. Conte uses Hazard in a 3-4-3 and doesn't expect Hazard to defend and support Alonso. You play your best players to do what they do best. Ozil's job is to play killer passes, get 20 assists and 10-15 goals to help Arsenal finish off games.
And for that Arsenal need a new manager. A new manager who will not bottle big signings like the way Wenger has done in the last 2-3 years. Not bidding higher for Suarez when he was available at Liverpool, or pulling out in the last minute when Higuain was leaving Madrid only to see him thrive at Napoli. Arsenal need a personality who can come in the dressing room and shake things up, a place where mediocrity will not be acceptable.
As I conclude I want to quote Patrick Vieira, " Wenger's biggest strength is the trust he has in his players. His biggest weakness is that he's too nice, because players "need a kick in the arse."
Arsenal need a Conte-style revival. A new personality who will do everything which Wenger failed to do. It has to happen now.
But where do Arsenal go from here? Can Arsenal keep hold of both of them? Will Arsenal persuade at least one of them to stay? If yes, who would that be?
But is Alexis irreplaceable? I do not think so. Yes he is the best Arsenal have got and hence he will shine among st the mediocrity alongside him. He does have a huge selfish side to him. His attitude when he gets substituted, his overall demeanor on the pitch are some of my personal concerns. No question he is a world class player and I would certainly keep hold of him but not as a center forward but as a player on Arsenal's left.
I would keep Ozil. There's no #10 like him available in the market and genuinely Arsenal and Wenger haven't bought a CF who could have brought the best out of Ozil. Ozil is a power passer who needs runners when he has the ball in control. In the last 3-4 years Ozil has played with Giroud, Sanchez, and very meagerly with Welbeck and Walcott in front of him.
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After having played 104 games for Arsenal, he has scored 20 goals, an average of a goal every 5 games. Not bad for a player who has never been prolific. He averaged somewhat similar in a free scoring Real side (19/105 games). When we talk about assists, he has 37/104 matches in the Premier League( which is the best ratio ever in the Premier league era above Eric Cantona and Cesc Fabregas in the top 3) and he had an assist record of 47 in 105 matches at Madrid.
The most astounding statistic is the chances created piece. Ozil created 324 chances for his forwards in his 105 games for Real in the La Liga, that's an average of 3 per game and in the premier league he has created over 370 chances in 104 games. When you compare these numbers you'd feel Ozil individually has improved his game. His goals have increased and so have his chances created and assists have remained the same. Remember he has come to a much more physical league than what he encountered in Spain. Games are much more tighter and far more competitive.
What has been missing for Ozil has been a couple of human arrows in the team. Human Arrows in the form of a Ronaldo. Ronaldo who always makes the run behind the opposition defense with a trust that Ozil will find him if he does make that run. Most of the current forwards in exception to Welbeck ( but he has spent more time on the treatment table) don't make that forward run when Ozil is in possession of the ball. This includes Sanchez who doesn't do it consistently enough. Sanchez most of the time wants the ball to be played at his feet. With Giroud its the same.
My opinion- very simple. Keep Ozil. But before that what Arsenal need is a manager who can convince him to stay. Ozil is someone who needs to be trusted. I do not want him to tackle and run around like Sanchez does. that's not why Arsenal paid 42 million quid for him.
Jose Mourinho used Hazard in a 4-2-3-1 on the left wing and expected him to track back and help the left back. Conte uses Hazard in a 3-4-3 and doesn't expect Hazard to defend and support Alonso. You play your best players to do what they do best. Ozil's job is to play killer passes, get 20 assists and 10-15 goals to help Arsenal finish off games.
And for that Arsenal need a new manager. A new manager who will not bottle big signings like the way Wenger has done in the last 2-3 years. Not bidding higher for Suarez when he was available at Liverpool, or pulling out in the last minute when Higuain was leaving Madrid only to see him thrive at Napoli. Arsenal need a personality who can come in the dressing room and shake things up, a place where mediocrity will not be acceptable.
As I conclude I want to quote Patrick Vieira, " Wenger's biggest strength is the trust he has in his players. His biggest weakness is that he's too nice, because players "need a kick in the arse."
Arsenal need a Conte-style revival. A new personality who will do everything which Wenger failed to do. It has to happen now.
