1.) 02 Jul 2018
02 Jul 2018 06:00:02
About time ed, I’m sick of hearing people’s ignorant opinions about ozil. He’s a great player.

{Ed001's Note - I fully agree. If he looked like Ronaldo instead of a creature from the Muppets I bet he would be idolised.}

2.) 02 Jul 2018
02 Jul 2018 06:18:40
Watching Ozil live playing football givesyou a far better appreciation for him as he takes up so many great unselfish positions - on the left then the right. he’s a talent and gets undeserved negative press. Nice one Ed.

{Ed001's Note - the problem is that he is constantly the butt of nasty, and false, comments from commentators. Last season I started keeping track of all the times he chased back to cover when Bellerin was caught up field and how many times the commentator actually mentioned him working back. I lost count of the number of times he got back to press the attacker who got in behind Bellerin. I had absolutely no trouble keeping track of the number of times the commentator acknowledged it though, as it was zero, nada, zilch, nothing. In fact they even criticised him on more than one occasion after he had sprinted back from the edge of the opposition box to the edge of his own, because he was taking a breather and walking afterwards! I really wonder how the commentators get a job when they don't seem to actually see 99% of the game.}

3.) 02 Jul 2018
02 Jul 2018 07:28:20
I went to about 15 games last year in all competition and the movement off the ball from our attacking players was non existent. People used to go on about the relationship with Sanchez but that was because he was the only player that gave ozil options. Another I get annoyed with is people always say he’s lightweight but with the ball at his feet he is very hard to disposses and switches the ball between his feet very well. Extreamly technically gifted player who’s sharpness of Mind more than makes up for any real pace. I feel he is stuck between a rock and a hard place. The players in front have not been making the runs whilst the bunch behind have left him exposed and having to drop deeper with his back towards goal to get involved.
A great piece ed and I’m so pleased and in full agreement as if he was the player that everyone calls I know you would be damning. He’s been made a scapegoat by the deficiency’s elsewhere on the pitch.

{Ed001's Note - I fully agree with your assessment, in particular how he was struggling with no runners. He is one of those players that has become a scapegoat for others that lack his ability.}

4.) 02 Jul 2018
02 Jul 2018 08:08:36
Hopefully under Dick the team will improve in all kinds of ways and we will finally get to appreciate just how good Mesut Ozil is.
He has been surrounded by players with a poor mentality and attitudes and he has taken the brunt of people's frustrations unjustifiably in my opinion.

5.) 02 Jul 2018
02 Jul 2018 09:39:53
Ozil is a quality player, but needs the team to be set out correctly to support him, which by the sounds of things Emery will do. The problem I foresee is fitting in ozil, Mkhitaryan and Iwobi.
Leno
Bellerin Sokratis Mustafi Kolasinac
Torreira Nzonzi
Ramsey Xhaka
Ozil
Aubameyang.

6.) 02 Jul 2018
02 Jul 2018 10:23:16
Completely agree with the opening assessment. He's quite comfortably the best player in our squad, and has been from the moment we signed him (yes Sanchez was fantastic for us, but I've always thought Ozil adds more to the team and results as a whole).

We're a much better team whenever he plays, and anyone who tells you anything different isn't watching the game. I remember the first season we signed him I spent a few games just watching him off the ball, and it's just the little things that you don't notice if you're just following the ball - the amount of times he'll make runs to drag defenders out of position or cause them problems just to open gaps for other players.

Completely and unfairly scapegoated because, apparently, of his body language indicating desire or laziness (when stats, as pointed out, tell a completely different story). Although Arsenal have been relatively unfashionable in the media for a few years now, so it's not surprising.

Still underserved for a great player though. This is a guy who broke the record for 50 prem assists in the fewest number of games this season, the previous record holder being Eric Cantona. (Maybe if Ozil kung fu kicked a Spurs fan that might convince the pundits he's not really that lazy.? Not that I'm suggesting he do that, the suspension would crucify us. )

@RG61, You're struggling to fit Mkhi and Ozil in the same team because you're including players who don't actually play for Arsenal ;)

7.) 02 Jul 2018
02 Jul 2018 11:45:02
Fabulous player and love him, RG I can’t believe you used Ozil and Iwobi in the same sentence.

8.) 02 Jul 2018
02 Jul 2018 11:46:33
@ DHArsenal - to clarify, it is because they are all suited to playing a similar role and I hope the days of playing an imbalanced team simply to accomodate players are over. Torreira and Nzonzi have been heavily linked with us. However, I do not want to see the 3 players I mentioned accomodated in the team at the expense of playing players more suitable to the roles.

9.) 02 Jul 2018
02 Jul 2018 13:25:18
Ed - you are spot on. He’s work rate back and forward was pretty damn good. I notice every poor pace of his was criticised in the World Cup despite no forward movement or same comments about other players misplacing passes.

Hopefully it’s not a decision Iwobi Vs Ozil that needs to be considered. Surely we need to look at how to get the best out of our best players. If the formation doesn’t suit all our best players - we make tough decisions. Iwobi Vs Ozil is not.

Auba Ozil Mkhitaryan and Lacca along with Rambo plus a new winger should be our core attacking players with Ozil top of the creative pile.

We need to ensure we have a Gilberto type player to free up Ozil so he doesn’t have to track back so much. Our fullbacks need to bloody defend so Ozil doesn’t waste energy covering them too often. Ozil running back to his own goal is a waste of Ozil.

{Ed001's Note - spot on mate. Not every player is a Firmino-type, who can chase everywhere. You need to set up a team to suit the individuals within it and get them using their strengths and use others to cover their weaknesses. It has been a long time since Ozil has had a team that does that for him.}

10.) 02 Jul 2018
02 Jul 2018 14:56:36
Class on grass! I try not to get suckered in by players that slag off rivals via social media or scream at a team mate when a pass is missed to him - crowd pleasers! Me I’m happy with quality - Ozil and over a number of years Kos. It’s the way of the World - one lost game one mistake then hang him by his Buster Browns! Well said Ed and hopefully our defensive unit defend for once and let Mr Assister do his thing COYG.

11.) 02 Jul 2018
02 Jul 2018 17:28:27
Ed001, thanks for that opinion piece on Ozil. I enjoyed reading it. The criticism Ozil gets from commentators at times is unjustified at times but I guess it is the nature of media to be controversial. Watching a game on a tv screen doesn’t do some players justice as off camera their positions and movement often go unnoticed, which is a shame. Commentators who are at the games display wilful ignorance at times. Good read that piece.

{Ed001's Note - thank you very much mate.}

12.) 02 Jul 2018
02 Jul 2018 18:47:05
Massive season for him. We will play 433 I think that means he will be out wide. Tactically you can't carry him and Miki so I only see one getting in most of the time. Big battle for a place.

{Ed002's Note - That would be a change of tactics from his preferred formation.}

13.) 02 Jul 2018
02 Jul 2018 19:12:38
How do you see emery playing formation wise ed? 4321, 4231, 442, 4141, 352? I know at ever club bar psg where he played 433 he has favoured a 4231 when defending and more like a 3421 when attacking with the full backs pushing into midfield and the dm (prob torreira) sloting into a back 3.

{Ed002's Note - 4231 is his much preferred formation.}

14.) 02 Jul 2018
02 Jul 2018 20:32:50
So:
Leno
Bellerin Sokratis New CD Kolasinac
Torreira Granit
New winger Ozil Miki
Aubameyang.

15.) 03 Jul 2018
03 Jul 2018 03:59:36
If it is 4231 i reckon he might go
Leno
Bellerin sokiritis new cb monreal
Torreira xhaka/ nzonzi
Ozil Ramsey miki
Auba

When attacking it becomes
Leno
Sokiritis torreira new cb
Bellerin xhaka/ nzonzi ramsey monreal
Ozil miki
Auba

Reason nzonzi might come is he is avaliable and even with torreira added we need more legs in midfield in this modern game. If not incan see torreira getting exposed. You need a player in midfield that can cover the ground quuckly and is tactically aware. Much like liverpool and spurs midfield. Nzonzi is that man. Ramsey is better used getting forward not as a 10 but as a lampard type. The only thing is if nzonzi does come someone in midfield could be sold.

16.) 03 Jul 2018
03 Jul 2018 10:29:36
In my personal opinion, in order to get the best out of Ozil we must play in no. 10 and get a proper RW in with pace and who can break defence lines (e. g Gelson Martins/ Cristian Pavon) - this will get the most of out Ozils vision and ability to split defences from deep as to dicking around with the ball in the oppositions final 3rd with no space for any player to run into. A pivot of Xhaka - Torreira then seems very suitable to play behind him.