Phil Thompson has suggested that Mesut Ozil’s days at Arsenal could be numbered.
The 30-year-old senior player had failed to start a game for the Gunners since November 11th before being given the captain’s armband against Burnley on Saturday lunchtime, and was omitted from Unai Emery’s squad for the Carabao Cup quarter final against Tottenham in midweek.
Speaking as a pundit on Soccer Saturday (Sky Sports News, December 22nd, 12pm), Thompson argued that the ex-German international did not fit into his manager’s style of play.
He said: “Some of the games under this new manager have probably looked a bit too tough for him, you can accept that, and then he’s on the bench, maybe come on as an impact player.
“This is a player who’s on £350,000 per week, allegedly, and we all know what he can do. Maybe in certain games he can come on and be that sort of player.
“To not be in the squad, I think his time’s up as a regular in this Arsenal side. I can’t see him holding down a place in this Unai Emery side.
“I don’t think he [Ozil] has that ability of what he wants – high press, high energy. Yes he’s got silky skills, but that only comes into play at certain times for this side.”
OPINION
On paper, it’s incredible that a player of Mesut Oil’s quality, having achieved everything he has in the game and with the salary he is reportedly on, could be deemed surplus to requirements. In truth, it’s not hard to see why Emery has sidelined the 30-year-old so far this season. His style of play is ill-fitting with an Arsenal side that seems much more willing to the dirty work than it did under Arsene Wenger. Ozil has many great aspects to his game, but defending and an irrepressible work ethic are not two of them. Arsenal do still need a playmaker, as has been proven by their inability to break teams down in the first half of matches this season, but Ozil maybe isn’t the right kind of creative talent. Somebody a little more robust with a little more in the tank would be better suited, but the issue will be affording somebody of a high enough calibre while the German’s extortionate wages are still to be found. Ozil must be moved on to help the Emery project grow.