Tag Archives: Mesut Özil

Mesut Ozil – Good, but not good enough

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So the transfer window is closed. We finally spent some money. A truly world class talent in Mesut Ozil  (I am not going to put the silly little dots about his name) has joined The Arsenal for a club record £42.4million, but I sit here this morning with a bitter sweet taste in my mouth – although that might be the rubbish ocffee I have just made myself.

Whilst the signing of Ozil is a brilliant one. A world class player, just entering his peak, there is a feeling that we could have, no we should have, done more. The beginning of the Scouts Motto is a vow that ‘I will always do my best.’ It is clear that no one at Arsenal was ever a scout, because we have not done our best.

With a reported £80million to spend in this transfer window, we have spent just £42.4million of that. Add in the sales of Gervinho and more, we have raised circa £10million and free’d up hundreds of thousands in wages. A net spend of a little over £30million means there is plenty left in the pot. After last summers transfer window, Ivan Gazidas came out and said:

‘We also kept some powder dry so we’ve got the ability to invest if our manager finds the right opportunities in January.’

We bought a left back.

Now before I spiral too far into the pit of negativity, I am pleased with the players we got in. Emiliano Viviano, whilst I have never seen him play, reads like a player who could challenge Sczcesny. The press reported it as Arsenal signing a Seria B goal keeper. But the truth is he is Italian number 2, and last year was Fiorentina’s number 1 goalkeeper when they just narrowely missed out on Champions League football. The only slight worry is he looks a little like Manuel Almunia! However, why have we loaned him? We are Arsenal Football Club. We should not be relying on loan deals. With the money we have, if Arsene Wenger thinks Viviano is good enough, let’s go buy him and then make a song and dance about buying one of the best Italian goalkeepers.

We then have our 2 free transfer. Flamini and Sanogo. We know what we are getting in Flamini. And he showed what he can give to the team in the second half against Spurs. Going against the grain, I am happy with our midfield starters. Wither Arteta/Ramsey/Wilshere as the 2 central midfielder, and Rosicky/Cazorla/Chamberlain and now Ozil for the attacking midfielder, I struggled to see why we would need to go out and spend a £25million on Fellaini. Or big on a Bender or Gundogan. So the signing of Flamini is smart. It has improved the squad, and you know what you are getting. You know he will settle and he is good enough for the Premier League. And, in theory anyway, coming in on a free should have left money to spend on other area’s of the side.

As for Sanogo. He is a giant of a man and will come good. In his early games, I have been impressed by his movement and work rate. The guy has talent, but it might take him a year or so to get fully up to speed with the Premier League.

And that is the frustration. We essentially sit here with 1 senior striker. Yes, Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski can cover up there, but neither have been impressive when doing so. A bid for Demba Ba on the final day is not good enough. Especially when on loan. We still had another £40million to spend. Did we do our best to spend it? I think not. And in defence. Liverpool spent £25million early in the day on 2 talented young centrebacks. One of them the highly rates Sakho from PSG. Why were we not in for him? We had the money.

Yes, Mesut Ozil is a brilliant deal. One of the top 10 players in the world. And hopefully the signing of him will attract further players. But at the moment, it feels like I have been given a toy for Christmas with no batteries. And the shop’s do not open untill tomorrow. Except in this case the shop does not reopen until January. We failed to do our best. We are bad scouts.

Finally, how must Robin Van Persie be thinking this morning. Yes, he won the league title last year, but he left Arsenal to play with better players and win more. I said last year, Arsenal will win more trophies during Van Persie’s time at Old Trafford then Manchester United will. And now Van Persie looks around him and see’s Ashley Young, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverely and Nani supplying him. Whilst at Arsenal there Cazorla and Ozil. The two most creative players in Europe. I wonder if he is starting to regret the move

Keenos

1 nil, spending f**k all – Now to sign Ozil

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Here at SheWore, we have saying ‘we told you so’ but we did. We really did. A glance through our blogs for last week highlights our positivism. Some called us ludicrous. Some called us deluded. And some just laughed at us. Although the majority were Spurs fans. On a side note, I wonder if the hundreds of Spurs fans who have commented on here last week deriding our blogs will admit they were wrong, and that Arsenal were the better team. Probably not.

The point we were making all week is that you can spend £100million on players. But that does not mean you are better than The Arsenal. By losing Bale, all spending £100 million meant was that they had stood still. A more solid midfield, with less creativity. As shown by the fact they have yet to score from anything but a penalty this season.

Yes, Erikson will change them. He is a creative genius. But on Sunday, they looked more like an expensive Stoke, with a hard working, untalented side. The fact that there most creative player was Andros Townsend, who is dross, sums them up.

Over £30 million worth of new midfield talent in their starting line up was shown up. I said last week, I would take Ramsey & Wilshere over Capoue & Paulinho and I was proved right, as the Anglo-Welsh combination rang rings around them that Capoue got so dizzy that he fell over and broke his leg. Too think, some deluded Spurs fans were ‘boasting’ that he would break Wilshere’s leg!

The amazing thing about the victory over Spurs is there mocking of the signing of Yaya Sanogo. Whilst they had spent over £100m, all we had got in was ‘A French Postman on a Free.’ Well we did not even need the postman to deliver. He remained on the bench, spending 45 minutes warming up.

It was the performance of another Frenchman on a free which would give Arsenal fans most delight. We have been crying out for additional support in the middle of the park all summer. And the disappointment held by many when Flamini signed on a free was justifiable. However, Jack Wilshere getting the shits before half time meant that Flamini came into play. And what he showed is his stay in Milan has not taken away any of his work rate or sharpness. He showed leadership in the middle of the park, a bite in the tackle, and has surely solved our midfield problem. With Flamini, Arteta, Ramsey & Wilshere all vying for the 2 central midfield positions, it is hard to see where a new signing would fit in. Especially with the lack of truly great central midfielders that will be available. One things for certain, I can not see us going for Yohann Cabaye today.

And that brings us nicely onto the last day of the transfer window. Despite the victory, we are still short. However not as short as some will make you believe. Results against Fulham, Fenerbache and Spurs have shown that the 17/18 players we currently have are very good. And remember, it was only a poor referring decision in the Villa game that has probably stopped us being 9 points from 3 games.

In defence, things look ok. 4 good fullback and, once Thomas Vermaelen gets fit, 3 solid centrebacks. With Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertersacker proving themselves to be the best centreback pairing in the Premier League. With Sagna providing an able deputy as 4th choice centreback, the question is would we be able to get in someone who is:

a) Better than Sagna
b) Would be happy being 4th choice
c) Not cost an arm and a leg

We saw with the signing of Sebastien Squillaci that it is now always easy buying a 4th choice centreback. They can be a costly failure if they become mistake ridden. That is why we are perhaps better sticking with Sagna. Especially as Flamini and Ramsey can both cover full back in an emergency.

What might be the most exciting news of the transfer window is Mesut Ozil. He is rumoured to of landed in London this morning, with a deal already agreed with Real Madrid. There seems to be a reluctance for him to leave Real Madrid, and Arsenal is a step down. You get the feeling Arsene Wenger will have to sell the club and the future well to him.

I also would not be surprised if, upon hearing that Ozil is available, Manchester United try to hijack the bid. This could lead to a bit of a domino effect, as it would surely mean Kagawa then comes available. He may well end up back at Germany. Schalke could be the best option outside of Dortmund and Bayern Munich. That then free’s up Julian Draxler to join Arsenal.

And with Jaun Mata and Angel Di Maria also reportedly available, there are plenty of options if the Ozil deal does not happen.

Two things are for certain. Firstly today will be an exciting day for us Arsenal fans. Secondly, 1 Nil and we spent Fuck All.

Have a good transfer deadline day

Keenos