Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has definitely had a tumultuous season thus far. First we saw a few club legends rip the team, as the Gunners got off to a slow start, and Ozil post a response on Facebook. This inspired a blowback.
With Ozil set to see his contract expire in June, the German has been the subject of many transfer rumors, including links to both Barcelona and Manchester United. However, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said this week that both Ozil and Alexis Sanchez won’t be sold in the January transfer window. This is a sharp contrast from what he had said previously- that both players were on the market.
Ozil has sadly seen his form drop off this season, but the last two games have certainly seen a turnaround. He had a goal and two assists in tonight’s 5-0 shellacking of Huddersfield Town, to go along with his impressive showing in the win over Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby 10 days ago.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described the improvement we’ve seen from Ozil lately and offered his explanation to why the German is re-gaining his form.
“Nobody has to convince us he is a great football player but he’s added something people wanted to see from him as well, against Spurs and tonight again, that he can fight and he can come back and win the ball back,” Wenger said.
“Once people see that, they are behind you. Everyone knows in the stadium that he is a great football player and at the moment he shows as well that he can fight.”
Wenger sees that the German has regained his fight, and that that has been the key to his getting back in the groove.
“Our job is to encourage people to fight, but I think he always covered the distances in games, but he’s at an age where he’s more mature and understands what is more important and what is less important,” the Frenchman continued.
“Everybody wants to be acknowledged for his quality, and the judgements are sometimes harsh in a footballer’s job, but overall I believe the majority of people here love him, and always loved him.”
“When you look at the percentage of possession during a game, no matter what the game is, he always wants the ball. He never hides, he’s always available.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune corporation blogging community Chicago Now.
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