Arsenal had been linked with Houssem Aouar for the whole summer, but the deal failed to materialise.

A lack of creative outlet has worried fans of The Gunners’, with Joe Willock lacking the necessary experience is Mesut Ozil the answer to Arsenal’s problems?

  • The story

Ozil arrived at Arsenal in 2013 from Real Madrid for then a club record fee.

He has gone onto play 254 games for The Gunners’, scoring 44 goals and registering 77 assists.

The German is Arsenal’s best creative midfielder by a long stretch, and although he has been labelled a ‘luxury player’, the ability he possesses to pick a pass that others don’t see is unique to the team and isn’t something that can be afforded to lose or miss out on. 

  • Lack of game time

He only managed to muster a measly 23 appearances in the whole of last season, and hasn’t played in a competitive match in March 2020, where he played 89 minutes against West Ham United.

Ozil was only included in the match day squad twice in the final 13 Arsenal fixtures last season and didn’t register a minute since the Premier League restarted in June 2020.

He has also failed to make the squad in any of Arsenal’s games this season, much to the annoyance of some Arsenal fans.

It has really been Ozil’s injury record and attitude which occasionally has lost him support with the fanbase and management.

Since His debut, Ozil has missed 67 matches through reported injuries, but many fans believe that his absences haven’t always been what they seem and may be a refusal to play or train or an issue with his attitude.

You don’t have to look back too far to recall why Ozil deserves to return to the first team.

His 2018 ‘Man of the Match’ performance at Emirates Stadium, a 3-1 victory against Leicester City. Ozil proved that night why he is a world class player, with one goal, an assist and a heavy involvement in another. Ozil oozed class and his passes were executed effortlessly. 

  • Off the field

Mesut has hit the headlines again recently following the Deadline Day disaster amongst Arsenal fans following the shock sacking of mascot JerryGunnersarusQuy.

Ozil offered to pay the wages of the man who dedicated 27 years to the club.

He has been both praised and criticised by fans and pundits, either applauding his generosity and support for a loyal employee but has also been accused of using the situation as a PR exercise to earn him some credit and improve the mark against his name. 

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