Tag Archives: Mesut Özil

Mesut Ozil v Dele Alli

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“If he Mesut Ozil had half of what Dele Alli has got, that nasty streak, he would be ten times a better player than he is because he hasn’t got what Dele Alli has.”

They are the words uttered by Lee Dixon during England’s defeat against Germany.

Now I am not in the business of abusing Arsenal legends. And I will not abuse Lee Dixon. Legends have a right, and a platform, to give their opinion. Often the abuse on social media platforms they get from so called “Arsenal fans” is nothing short of a disgrace.

Even though you might be an Arsenal legend, it does not make you immune for criticism, and Lee Dixon’s comparison of Alli and Ozil is laugable.

It is that last line I find hilarious. Mesut Ozil hasn’t got what Dele Alli has.Let’s compare what both players ’have’:

One is a world class player who has won trophies throughout his career for club and country. The other spends his time making up silly handshakes.

Dele Alli is a player who I have rated since his days at MK Dons. I, like most, surprised how much he has developed. But he is yet to reach anywhere near the level of Mesut Ozil. Alli is a good player, but not a world class place. Germany won without Ozil. England lost with Alli in the side.

I think in summary, if Dele Alli achieves half as much as Mesut Ozil in his carer, he would be a ten times more successful player than he is, because at the moment, Dele Alli hasn’t got what Ozil has. Trophies.

Keenos

How do The Invincibles and Class of 2017 compare?

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Yesterday Arsene Wenger cam out and claimed his current crop of forwards was the best options he has had in his 2 decades at the club, surpassing the invicibles:

“Certainly numbers-wise and quality-wise together [they are the best],” Wenger said ahead of today’s clash with struggling Watford.

“We had never so many players who could perform and score goals – certainly never.

“Dennis and Thierry had the quality but we did not have a large number. We had Sylvain Wiltord and Robert Pires as well so it was not bad.”

Many have used this of further proof that Arsene Wenger is a deluded old man who has gone senile. It is further quotes to prove that he now looks at the current set up through rose tinted glasses.

Arsenal’s current forward options are: Olivier Giroud, Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil & Lucas Perez. How can these compare to Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Freddie Ljungberg, Robert Pires, Kanu and Sylvain Wiltord. The invincibles.

Well the statistics do make for interesting reading:

Invincibles v Class of 2017

goals-in-order

So the Invincibles scored a goal every 2.96 games. Whilst the Class of 2017 are a goal every 3.01 games. Almost nothing in it. We are talking about a 5 minute difference. But of course, it disproves Arsene Wenger’s point. The Invincibles were superior goal scorers, but only just. And probably not by as much as people think.

For me there are main differences between the two groups of players is top end quality. The Invincibles had Thierry Henry.

Henry is by far and away the most clinical player out of the 12 players and the primary reason that the Invincibles scored more than the Class of 2017.

A minor reason is Dennis Bergkamp against Mesut Ozil. Bergkamp was much more of a striker than Mesut Ozil. Scored more goals.

Henry better than Giroud, Bergkamp better than Ozil. When you combine all 12 players into a single long list, it makes equally as interesting reading.

Long List

long-list

This list further proves that Henry was superior to every other player. Our greatest goal scorer of all time. But the next two on the list are interesting. Both from the Class of 2017. This shows that whilst the Invincibles were heavily reliant on goals from Henry, the Class of 2017 has two goal scoring options.

Lucas Perez has to kind of be disregarded as he has played so few games to make a true judgement.

You then have the next 5. Pires, Bergkamp, Wiltord, Welbeck & Walcott. Very similar games to goal ratio.

So the Invincibles had the best goal scorer, but the Class of 2017 had the better options.

Player v Player

side-by-sideA last comparison is just seeing players per their position.

Again, this highlights the importance of Henry and Bergkamp. Henry is vastly superior to Giroud. Bergkamp better than Ozil. This is not exactly ground breaking news.

On the left hand side, Sanchez out scores Pires, which again is not exactly surprising. Sanchez is better than Pires.

The right hand side of the midfield might surprise you. Walcott is more dangerous than Ljungberg.

Wiltord and Welbeck are both hardworking strikers who also cover the wide positions. Wiltord had played a lot more than Welbeck, but their record is identical.

Lastly we have Perez v Kanu. Not similar in style, but they are the lost ones left. Kanu on his day was a game changer, but was extremely inconsistent. A scorer of great goals, rather than a great goal scorer.

 

I think it is wrong to compare the Invincibles to the Class of 2017. The Invincibles won league titles, and went unbeaten. Add in a lot of FA Cups. Whilst the current crop have just those 2 FA Cups to show for their efforts. But the comparison does make interesting reading, and the difference is not as much as you would think.

The difference is Bergkamp and Henry.

Keenos

Note: I know I spelt Wiltord’s name wrong in the pretty pictures

Mesut Ozil’s future NOT linked to Arsene Wenger

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As you have already probably read / heard, the breaking Arsenal story of the last 24 hours or so is the news that Mesut Ozil’s future is interlinked with Arsene Wenger’s. That the German superstar will only remain at Arsenal, signing a new contract, if Arsene Wenger does the same.

Like with everything Wenger related – and the majority of things Ozil result – the full out on social media has been polar opposites.

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On one hand you have those that have used the news to show that Mesut Ozil, who in their eyes is better than Zidane, is only at Arsenal due to Arsene, and that him only wanting to stay if Wenger stays is the only justification required when it comes to Wenger’s new 2 year contract that is on the table.

On the other side of the fence are those that blame Wenger for everything and see Ozil as his immortalisation on the pitch. Everything that is wrong with Arsenal is Arsene, and everything that Wenger portrays off the pitch is portrayed by Ozil on the pitch. Ozil is Wenger’s muse. The only reason Ozil want’s to stay at Arsenal under Wenger is because life is easy under Wenger. Wenger does not push him, and he gets away with whatever he wants. Big money for any east life.

Unfortunately for both parties, all this furore has highlighted how much a newspaper will take quotes and twist it to a headline, ignoring what was actually said. How little people read the quotes. And how much press BS people will believe if it suits their agenda. Whether that be Wenger-In or Wenger-Out.

Let’s look at them quotes from German football magazine Kicker in full;

“I want to be clear on what Wenger is doing,”

“I feel very, very happy at Arsenal and have shown the club that I am prepared to extend my contract,”

“The fans want me to stay. Now it’s just down to the club.”

“The club knows that I am, above all, here because of Arsene Wenger – who signed me and whose trust I have,”

“The club also knows that I just want to be clear on what the manager will do.”

At no point has Ozil said that he will only remain at Arsenal if Arsene Wenger stays. Or will leave if Arsene Wenger go’s. There has been a lot of reading between the lines.

Yes, Ozil admits that Wenger was a big reason for coming to Arsenal – and that should be remembered when it comes to replacing Wenger; Manchester United struggled to attract players under David Moyes – but that does not mean he is saying he will only stay at Arsenal if Arsene Wenger stays.

Of course, he wants clarification on what the managerial situation is going to be next season. Arsene Wenger’s contract comes to an end. Any player who is currently in contract negotiations with the club will be concerned as to what will happen next season.

Will Wenger still be at the club? If not who will be? Is it someone they know? Someone they have worked with? Someone they can work with?

Often in real life, when a popular long term manager leaves a company, those who served underneath question their future. The replacement manager could lead to the staff staying, but could also lead to a mass raft of resignations if they get the replacement wrong.

The way I see things, Ozil just wants to know what is going on before committing his future to the club. Does it mean he will only stay under Wenger? No. Does it mean he will leave if Wenger leaves? No. Does it mean he wants to see what the situation is going to be next season before making up his own mind? Yes.

Like Alexis Sanchez, Ozil has said that it is “down to the club”. They know what they want for him to stay. And the ball is in their hands. I imagine for Sanchez, like Ozil, the future depends on not just what Wenger does in terms of staying or going, but what the club does in terms of potentially replacing him.

Playing under Steve Bould or Eddie Howe is very different to playing under Diego Simeone or Massimiliano Allegri.

Of course, some will say that it should be The Arsenal, and not the manager, that is key to their decision. These people live in the past where people used to sign contracts without even reading them.

Footballers now only care about money, and that they will get on with the manager who will potentially drive them to success. More success means more money.

So let’s put them agendas away. I will leave the final summary to blogger You Are My Arsenal.

Keenos