AT THE END of August, Mesut Ozil defiantly spoke up and spoke out against the criticism he had received before, during and after the World Cup.
The negative criticism came out of nowhere, it went from zero to 100. I went from being the darling of German football, the jewel in the crown, to being hammered in the media. I’m one of the best players in the world in that No10 position. Fans, coaches, players and everyone knows that my best position is playmaker. It’s different playing on the left. Joachim Löw needed me on the left. It’s not about the individual, it’s about the team.“
It’s been a while since Ozil has played through the middle. This season, Arsene Wenger has preferred a central three of Flamini, Ramsey and Wilshere so the German has been isolated on the left. But he does have some freedom and flexibility. Against City, he did pop up to create two chances and the positional contrast shows that he’s not tied to the flank for the entire game.
But perhaps the most frustrating element for Ozil and the Arsenal supporters is that he can’t do too much harm to the opposition from out wide. He can’t beat players, he doesn’t offer much in 1 v 1 situations and so his role is to constantly look for a clever and incisive pass instead. Against City, a tight fixture where a moment of magic can change the outcome, Ozil was rarely involved in central zones. The majority of his final third passes came from the channels and you want a player like to Ozil to prove and hunt from the edge of the box as much as possible. Again, those moments were too infrequent.
In the aftermath of Saturday’s game, Wenger was quizzed about Ozil and the criticism he’s received. His response was intriguing though hardly convincing.
People always have this kind of attitude about him. He worked hard against City and he played quite well. You see a good Ozil when you watch the game again. Then you realise his timing, his quality of the pass and something you can be frustrated during the game but you must not overreact. When you watch the game in a cool manner, you see what a good player he is. I have so many offensive players. I give him freedom to play outside and inside and he likes that. It is not easy but Ozil is a team player and he takes it very well.”
Ozil certainly wasn’t brought to Arsenal to be a team player. He is the club’s record signing because he’s an individual and can create chances and spark something from nothing. He’s the type of player who is excused from harassing defenders and tracking back because in an instant, he can change a game with a carefully-caressed pass, a fancy flick or a threaded through-ball. And that’s what happened when he first arrived at the Emirates. And then the supply-line dried up. And then he was pushed wide to accommodate him in the side. But that brings about its own problems, particularly in Europe.
Most notably against Bayern Munich in last season’s round of 16, Ozil naturally struggled when asked to drop back and offer some defensive reinforcement against such a possession-based juggernaut.
In the Premier League, Ozil can slot in on the left side and be afforded the chance to move and pop up in a variety of different areas. But, given Arsenal’s current issue with rampaging full-backs (City’s opening goal on Saturday is a perfect example), that may have to be reined in, especially against the better teams. So, what is Wenger’s long-term plan regarding Ozil? Is there an inevitable conclusion to all of this? Ozil being sold back to a club in mainland Europe where he’ll be played through the middle to great acclaim again?
One player that will be advising Ozil to do just that is Shinji Kagawa. Having rejoined Dortmund for a cut-price deal on deadline day, his first game back for the Bundesliga side came against Freiburg and, rather unsurprisingly, the Japanese play-maker scored one and made one.
His role in Dortmund’s first was textbook-Kagawa. Quickness of foot and thought was the key. There was the initial glance across the pitch to see what was on before a sharp turn took him back towards the left flank. Kevin Grosskreutz had already made an intelligent run to get in behind and Kagawa found him perfectly, stabbing a perfectly-weighted pass through. The rest was easy. Kagawa’s pass made it all possible.
And he looked a different player. The shackles were off. There was nothing tentative, like there had been throughout his entire United career. There was a purpose, a confidence. Even early on, he tried a shot from the edge of the area with his left foot that whistled narrowly over the bar. Rarely did he offer something like that while wearing a red shirt. His own goal came on 41 minutes, expertly side-footing inside the near post after demanding he be played in. The talisman was back and calling the shots. In the end, he was forced off with cramp. He had exerted himself to the point of exhaustion. It was good to be back.
So contrasting storylines ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash. As one player falls back in love with the game, another is struggling to stay relevant.
Other talking points ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League:
1) Can Liverpool shake off their recent on-field issues?
Mario Balotelli has began his career at Anfield with a whimper rather than a bang. Peter Byrne / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Peter Byrne / PA Wire/Press Association Images / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Liverpool v Ludogorets, Group B
You would think that with facing into a first Champions League game in five years against the group minnows, confidence is high at Liverpool. But, owing to events at Anfield on Saturday, they head into a battle with PFC Ludogorets Razgrad under somewhat of a cloud.
Two league defeats from their first four games and the loss of striker Daniel Sturridge for a few weeks has rattled them just a little. Against Villa, they failed to break down a resolute defence, despite having plenty of possession. Adam Lallana struggled to get a foothold in the game while Lazar Markovic could only hint at a bright future with a few bright moments. Perhaps most worryingly of all was how ineffective Mario Balotelli was. Well-handled by Philippe Senderos, he seemed to lose interest early in the second half and outside of one impressive strike that narrowly fizzed wide of the far post, he was largely anonymous.
The Bulgarians will attempt to offer up a relatively similar defensive display but odds are it won’t go as well. To get some confidence back, it’s important for Liverpool to get amongst the goals and, after a very quiet performance from the home fans at the weekend, to get The Kop on board again.
2) Under-fire Ancelotti can’t afford another slip-up
Like Liverpool, Real Madrid's start to their domestic campaign has been unimpressive and Carlo Ancelotti is a manager under-fire. Andres Kudacki / AP/Press Association Images
Andres Kudacki / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Real Madrid v Basel FC, Group B
It was supposed to be an easy transition. Fan favourites Angel di Maria and Xabi Alonso were moved on, James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos arrived to take their places. But as much as Carlo Ancelotti has been speaking about patience and allowing the new faces get a grasp for their new surroundings, he’s well aware of how this will go should poor results continue.
The most recent setback came in the local derby with Atleti (a 1-2 loss) on Saturday and that made it two defeats from their first three La Liga assignments. There was also the Super Cup loss to their nearest and dearest before the season got underway too.
Basel did get to the quarter-finals of the Europa League last term (and carried a 3-0 first-leg victory into the away fixture against Valencia, only to suffer a 5-0 thrashing) but anything other than an emphatic win for Real won’t do. Paulo Sousa is the Swiss side’s current manager with Marco Streller their danger man while veteran defender Walter Samuel could also be involved in tonight’s clash.
Analysis: As Ozil continues to struggle, Kagawa rekindles his romance with Dortmund
AT THE END of August, Mesut Ozil defiantly spoke up and spoke out against the criticism he had received before, during and after the World Cup.
It’s been a while since Ozil has played through the middle. This season, Arsene Wenger has preferred a central three of Flamini, Ramsey and Wilshere so the German has been isolated on the left. But he does have some freedom and flexibility. Against City, he did pop up to create two chances and the positional contrast shows that he’s not tied to the flank for the entire game.
But perhaps the most frustrating element for Ozil and the Arsenal supporters is that he can’t do too much harm to the opposition from out wide. He can’t beat players, he doesn’t offer much in 1 v 1 situations and so his role is to constantly look for a clever and incisive pass instead. Against City, a tight fixture where a moment of magic can change the outcome, Ozil was rarely involved in central zones. The majority of his final third passes came from the channels and you want a player like to Ozil to prove and hunt from the edge of the box as much as possible. Again, those moments were too infrequent.
In the aftermath of Saturday’s game, Wenger was quizzed about Ozil and the criticism he’s received. His response was intriguing though hardly convincing.
Ozil certainly wasn’t brought to Arsenal to be a team player. He is the club’s record signing because he’s an individual and can create chances and spark something from nothing. He’s the type of player who is excused from harassing defenders and tracking back because in an instant, he can change a game with a carefully-caressed pass, a fancy flick or a threaded through-ball. And that’s what happened when he first arrived at the Emirates. And then the supply-line dried up. And then he was pushed wide to accommodate him in the side. But that brings about its own problems, particularly in Europe.
Most notably against Bayern Munich in last season’s round of 16, Ozil naturally struggled when asked to drop back and offer some defensive reinforcement against such a possession-based juggernaut.
In the Premier League, Ozil can slot in on the left side and be afforded the chance to move and pop up in a variety of different areas. But, given Arsenal’s current issue with rampaging full-backs (City’s opening goal on Saturday is a perfect example), that may have to be reined in, especially against the better teams. So, what is Wenger’s long-term plan regarding Ozil? Is there an inevitable conclusion to all of this? Ozil being sold back to a club in mainland Europe where he’ll be played through the middle to great acclaim again?
One player that will be advising Ozil to do just that is Shinji Kagawa. Having rejoined Dortmund for a cut-price deal on deadline day, his first game back for the Bundesliga side came against Freiburg and, rather unsurprisingly, the Japanese play-maker scored one and made one.
His role in Dortmund’s first was textbook-Kagawa. Quickness of foot and thought was the key. There was the initial glance across the pitch to see what was on before a sharp turn took him back towards the left flank. Kevin Grosskreutz had already made an intelligent run to get in behind and Kagawa found him perfectly, stabbing a perfectly-weighted pass through. The rest was easy. Kagawa’s pass made it all possible.
And he looked a different player. The shackles were off. There was nothing tentative, like there had been throughout his entire United career. There was a purpose, a confidence. Even early on, he tried a shot from the edge of the area with his left foot that whistled narrowly over the bar. Rarely did he offer something like that while wearing a red shirt. His own goal came on 41 minutes, expertly side-footing inside the near post after demanding he be played in. The talisman was back and calling the shots. In the end, he was forced off with cramp. He had exerted himself to the point of exhaustion. It was good to be back.
So contrasting storylines ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash. As one player falls back in love with the game, another is struggling to stay relevant.
Other talking points ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League:
1) Can Liverpool shake off their recent on-field issues?
Liverpool v Ludogorets, Group B
You would think that with facing into a first Champions League game in five years against the group minnows, confidence is high at Liverpool. But, owing to events at Anfield on Saturday, they head into a battle with PFC Ludogorets Razgrad under somewhat of a cloud.
Two league defeats from their first four games and the loss of striker Daniel Sturridge for a few weeks has rattled them just a little. Against Villa, they failed to break down a resolute defence, despite having plenty of possession. Adam Lallana struggled to get a foothold in the game while Lazar Markovic could only hint at a bright future with a few bright moments. Perhaps most worryingly of all was how ineffective Mario Balotelli was. Well-handled by Philippe Senderos, he seemed to lose interest early in the second half and outside of one impressive strike that narrowly fizzed wide of the far post, he was largely anonymous.
The Bulgarians will attempt to offer up a relatively similar defensive display but odds are it won’t go as well. To get some confidence back, it’s important for Liverpool to get amongst the goals and, after a very quiet performance from the home fans at the weekend, to get The Kop on board again.
2) Under-fire Ancelotti can’t afford another slip-up
Real Madrid v Basel FC, Group B
It was supposed to be an easy transition. Fan favourites Angel di Maria and Xabi Alonso were moved on, James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos arrived to take their places. But as much as Carlo Ancelotti has been speaking about patience and allowing the new faces get a grasp for their new surroundings, he’s well aware of how this will go should poor results continue.
The most recent setback came in the local derby with Atleti (a 1-2 loss) on Saturday and that made it two defeats from their first three La Liga assignments. There was also the Super Cup loss to their nearest and dearest before the season got underway too.
Basel did get to the quarter-finals of the Europa League last term (and carried a 3-0 first-leg victory into the away fixture against Valencia, only to suffer a 5-0 thrashing) but anything other than an emphatic win for Real won’t do. Paulo Sousa is the Swiss side’s current manager with Marco Streller their danger man while veteran defender Walter Samuel could also be involved in tonight’s clash.
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