Gary Brown
Having seen a shocking display against Leicester by most of the team, I wanted to highlight something I have been noticing for a while and see if my fellow Gooners agree or not.
I know once an opinion is stated on a forum like this, that when someone disagrees with you, you are opening yourself up to having your parenting questioned and worse, but if we can focus on the issue raised without getting personal it might help.
Ozil is a skilful player. And were he playing in the 2001/02 or 2003/04 title winning sides he would have been great. In fact he may have come in handy when Pires got injured. However in today's world, players playing on the wings have to track back and when one of them doesn't you are in big trouble.
Baines at the World Cup may have been a worse choice than Cole, but the fact is for Italy's winner the cross came from England's left because he was doubled up on due to Rooney not tracking back, thus exposing his full back. If you stop the cross you stop the goal - simple.
Whilst Ozil may be responsible for creating some goals we score, this doesn't come near the amount of goals he is responsible for us conceding since his arrival. Two examples from this season alone would be Everton's first goal which came from Arsenal's left side (where Ozil was playing and not tracking back - so the guy he was want meant to be marking was free to score). The other example being against Leicester where their goal came from Arsenal's right side - and guess which flank Ozil was on? The right, where they had an extra man to make the cross.
Since he responsible for more goals being conceded than he is creating, I actually think (whilst we have other areas of concern on top of this) he is costing us games. It's simple maths really - create one goal in nine PL games but be responsible for about 10 goals being conceded in your last nine PL games (I haven't checked the exact stats but I'm sure someone will) and you aren't worth your place in the team.
I would much rather see the Ox and Sanchez (who both track back fantastically) on the wings, and even Santi has woken up to this and is tracking back more, than see Ozil play for Arsenal for a long time. His cost to the team is not worth the benefit.
Whilst we need another DF, a DM and a STRIKER (Why we did not balloteli for 16 million is beyond me) (Ed’s note, piece submitted before the Welbeck signing) I do think that even without any more signings, we will automatically win more games and concede less goals if Ozil is dropped from the team asap. When you play the number 10 role in a hole then you have no defensive duties (some would argue you do but let's say for now you don't) then Ozil is great, but this season we have gone from 4-2-3-1 to a 4-1-4-1 and therefore there is no number 10 role in the hole, so Ozil doesn't fit the bill.
With this in mind, Alexis (even if bought as a striker) is an improvement on our wide areas especially defensively. But for me Mezut should not be in out first 11 until he proves in Capital One cup or reserve matches that he is willing to track back when played on the wing - until then, Arsene Wenger (if you are reading this!) please drop him. We will benefit as a team.
