Tag Archives: Arsenal

Mesut Ozil talks a great game, but his actions speak louder than his words

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He has always played the media game well has Mesut Ozil. I wonder how much he spends on his PR team?

Yesterday he released an interview through The Athletic where he painted himself the victim at Arsenal.

He blamed Arsenal for rushing the pay cut talks, and said that he refused to take one as “questions remained unanswered”.

Ozil declared himself fit and ready to play, and that he was committed to Arsenal.

He showed disappointment in Arsenal distancing themselves from his view on the treatment of Uighur Muslim’s in China.

And finally he said he had no regrets of his actions and decisions.

As expected, his fans lapped it up. Backed him. Blamed Arsenal. Some even said he should “sue Arsenal” for the way they have treated him.

All these people show that they are supporters or Mesut Ozil, not supporters or Arsenal.

When the time does come for Ozil to leave, they will likely leave him, and begin supporting whatever Turkish, Chinese or American side he joins.

He oddly has a huge backing from Nigeria.

Dare criticise him on Twitter and your mentions will be inundated with Nigerian based “Arsenal fans” supporting him.

So Ozil has spoken a great game once more. But actions speak louder than words.

Following the resumption of football, he ended up out of Mikel Arteta’s plans.

Some have said that this was a financial decision made by the board in an attempt to force him out of the club – to get his £18m wages off the wage bill next season.

But this view does not make sense.

Qualifying for the Europe League is worth around £35million. Can double that if we had have sneaked the Champions League.

Each individual place in the Premier League is worth about £2m more than the place below.

It is clear and obvious that the financial reward for finishing higher in the league is greater than what Ozil would cost over the next 12 months.

So the financial incentive of the club would have been to finish as high up the table as possible, and therefore Arteta to play his best team as possible.

Leaving Ozil out for financial reasons and then failing to make the Europa League makes zero sense.

Whilst every few weeks Ozil tweets or posted on Instagram that he is ready and raring to go, Arteta got to see him day in, day out in training.

His actions and performances at London Colney speak much more about his readiness than what the player says on social media.

The ultimate action was Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi not being at Wembley for the final, whilst the likes of Shkodran Mustafi, Bernd Leno, Gabriel Martinelli and Callum Chambers we’re invited along.

What it indicates is Arteta didn’t want the atmosphere around that both players bring. The negativity.

A decision was made not to have either about and Arsenal won.

There has been plenty of talk about Ozil often calling in sick to training. About his inability to complete a full weeks training.

On top of that, he has reportedly pulled out of match day squads with a “sore back” at very late notice.

Against Manchester City in the first game back it was on the day of the game.

So whilst Ozil might sit on social media and tel his fans that he is ready to play, his actions clearly do not back up his words.

Ultimately, if Ozil has the hunger and desire to play football, he would be looking for a move away.

The fact that he has said he will remain at Arsenal next season regardless of whether he plays or not shows he has no real interest in playing football anymore.

Yes, he is under contract at Arsenal and does not have to force a move away. But if he had the hunger to play football he would.

His time at Arsenal is clearly over. It is now down to him whether he wants to play football or not.

My feeling is he will remain at Arsenal for the season and not playing. All that action does is support Arteta and the management team at Arsenal.

It simply highlights that Ozil no longer has the right mentality to be a top footballer.

Keenos

Could Arsenal take advantage of Valencia’s financial struggles?

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In recent days Valencia have sold Francis Coquelin and Dani Parejo on the cheap to Villareal £10million for the pair is an absolute steal.

Valencia were in huge financial trouble before Covid19. The suspension of football across Europe and lack of gate receipt income for the foreseeable future is going to make matters worse for clubs like Valencia who were already on a shaky financial footing.

It is said to see for someone who grew up watching them take on the dominance of Real Madrid and Barcelona in the early 00s.

With the likes of David Villa, David Silva and Juan Mata, Valencia were always enjoy too watch.

It is a sad demise but also an opportunity for clubs to pick up a decent player or two on the cheap. Like a vulture picking at a corpse.

But do they actually have anyone that would interest Arsenal?

José Luis Gayà is a name that everyone seemed to be linked with a few years ago and is certainly the jewel in their team. But we do not need a left back.

Another we were linked with many years ago is Geoffrey Kondogbia. One of my mates still loves him. But his chance has surely gone?

Carlos Soler is someone that Mikel Arteta rates and we were linked with him a month or so ago. He could become a genuine target if Arsenal decide to go 433.

Soler and Dani Ceballos either side of a more defensive minded midfielder (Granit Xhaka) would have some good balance to it.

3 years ago, PSG spent €30 million on Gonçalo Guedes. A year later Valencia spent €40 million on the Portuguese winger.

He has not exactly shone, but if he were available for under £20 million, he could provide excellent competition for Bukayo Saka on the left hand side

Mouctar Diakhaby is a physical presence of a central defender, but not really sure if he is good enough defensively, whilst Jasper Cillessen might be a cheap option for a second choice goal keeper.

I can see a situation where Arsenal cash in on either Bernd Leno or Emi Martinez for £30 million+ and secure Cillessen for under £15 million, freeing up money to be spent elsewhere.

Manchester United target Maxi Gomez could provide the “Plan B” we have missed since selling Olivier Giroud.

Finally, Arsenal might be tempted to sign Lee Kang-In.

The South Korean attacking midfielder would open up the doors to the lucrative Far-East market. And at 19-years-old would certainly be an exciting addition.

This originally started off as a mini blog but ended up being a normal blog. Think that will do for the day.

Enjoy the sunshine, if there is any left by the time you are reading this. Some much needed rain is on its way.

Keenos

How terminating Mesut Ozil’s contract could free up money to buy the likes of Gabriel Magalhães

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‘How would Arsenal make a saving by paying up Mesut Ozil’s contract?’ I saw for a few ask in response to John Cross’s article declaring that “Arsenal offer to pay off Mesut Ozil’s £18m contract to free up funds for new recruits”.

The question is a reasonable one that is worthwhile asking and exploring.

Were Arsenal to just pay off Ozil’s last year of his contract, it would save the club nothing. However if Arsenal can negotiate a pay off, they might be able to free up some cash even if they do end up paying the full value of the contract.

Arsenal could agree with Ozil that he defers some of his salary.

That he takes £10million now to cancel his contract and a further £8million in 12 months time. This would free up £8million in funds this summer, although reduce next summers funds by £8million.

‘But why would Ozil accept being paid late’ you ask. Another reasonable question.

By having his contract cancelled, Ozil would be free to join another side, and drawing a salary from them.

So he could pocket £10million now, sign a £6.5million a year deal with a Turkish side (£125k a week), and pick up a further £8million in 12 months time for Arsenal.

Instead of pocketing £18million over 12 months, he would be picking up £24.5million.

The advantage for Arsenal is it would immediately free up £8million to be invested elsewhere on wages and amortised transfer fees.

For £8million, Arsenal could pay a new signing £75,000 a week (£3.9m a year).

If they secure the new player on a 5 year deal, Arsenal could pay out a £20million transfer fee and amortise it over the length of the contract – meaning that Arsenal only “declare” 1/5 of the transfer fee each year the player is at the club.

So for 2020/21, that new player would cost Arsenal ~£7.9million (£3.9million in salary, £5million in amortised transfer fee).

It might not seem like much, but ending Ozil’s contract and kicking some of his wage down the road would allow Arsenal to sign someone like Gabriel Magalhaes – or the majority of his transfer and salary at least.

Of course, it would impact Arsenal’s transfer budget next season, but the hope would by then fans are back in the ground and Arsenal are back in the Champions League. At which point paying Ozil £8million for 2021/22 would not have the impact on finances it would now.

The other option that is widely known is that Arsenal “top up” his wages.

So lets say he joins Istanbul Basaksehir, who are after a marques player to replace outgoing Robinho, Arsenal would make up the difference between what the Turkish outfit are paying him and what he would have received from Arsenal.

So if he agrees a £125k a week deal with a side, Arsenal pay him £225k a week. The saving is still the same in £8million, but Arsenal would not need to pay him his contract in full. Just the difference.

The financial benefits of getting Ozil off the books are huge, and will allow Edu and Arteta to bring in additional players who and hungry, have the desire to play football and want to be here.

Note: Some will reply to this that “Ozil does not need to agree to end his contract or leave Arsenal”. Those people are right, but they are also not really Arsenal fans. They are more interested in defending Ozil then wanting what is best for Arsenal.

Keenos