Tag Archives: Mesut Özil

Arsenal snub Ozil whilst he makes return to action

2 Replies

Morning all (at least it is still morning when I started writing!)

Later than usual blog from me on a Sunday. I took the advantage of being on part-time furlough to spend some time with family in Suffolk.

Cracking weekend for this to be fair. Bought a sofa. Got a great deal on it as the sofa shop I bought it from had a sale on.

Yesterday was all about Mesut Ozil’s return in an Arsenal shirt as we lost 3-2 in a friendly at home to Aston Villa.

Never read too much into friends results. Clubs use games for different reasons and teams can be at different stages of development prior to the start of pre-season.

Some saw the return of Ozil as redemption. That he has returned to Mikel Arteta’s plans for the new season.

But then we have the photo from our friends over at The Arsenal History – a great source of reading material written by a couple of lads who really know their stuff. Readdresses many a myth about Arsenal’s history. I digress.

So that photo taken by Andy Kelly.

In the Armoury printing area, there are two notable omissions on the wall.

Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi.

Hector Bellerin is on it twice, as is Bukayo Saka. Out-on-loan Kostadinos Mavropanos is also on the wall. And the likes of Sokratis, Lucas Torreira and Rob Holding. All of whom are likely to leave the club this week.

But no Matteo Guendouzi or Mesut Ozil.

So on one hand Arsenal are not advertising the 2 ostracised players names and numbers, and then on the other Mesut Ozil was involved in the friendly against Aston Villa.

Read into this what you will.

Late Friday night Arsenal confirmed Dani Ceballos’ return to the club on loan. A good deal.

This time round Arsenal are paying no loan fee, but the Spaniards full wages.

When you consider last season we were paying 50% of Henrik Mkhitaryan’s £180k wages whilst out on loan to Roma, Arsenal will be financially up across the 2 deals.

Ceballos is the 2nd piece in the Arteta 3 man midfield jigsaw. The first being Granit Xhaka.

Expect at least one more signing in the middle of the park to go the other side of Xhaka. Hopefully Thomas Partey who will provide a physical presence in the middle and defensive cover on the right hand side of the pitch.

That defensive cover could be important if we play Ainsley Maitland-Niles at right back in a back 4.

Partey performed well at right back for Atlético Madrid against Arsenal a few years back.

It would be an exciting attacking option for Arsenal to have AMN pushing forward and Nicolas Pepe cutting inside, with Partey dropping deeper and wider to cover them.

We might even get a 2nd new central midfielder (someone more creative such as Houssem Aouar) to give us 4 senior options for 3 places. Will give Arteta the choice to go more attacking, or more defensive depending on the opponent.

So remember, season ticket holders. If you wish to go to games this season, renew now and ballot registrations are open.

Enjoy your Sunday.

Keenos

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

16 Replies

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

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

3 Replies

‘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