Perhaps even David Moyes would now admit that the jury is no longer out on
Mesut Ozil.
Since the former Everton manager’s bizarre comments ahead of Arsenal’s 2-0
win over Aston Villa Ozil has somehow become an even more influential force
in Arsene Wenger’s pursuit of a fourth Premier League crown.
In two of Arsenal’s last three games it has been their record signing who has
been the deciding factor. Against Bournemouth he turned a game in which the
hosts were on the rack into a comfortable 2-0 victory, providing an assist
for Gabriel before a gorgeous one-two with Olivier Giroud set him through to
secure the points.
That brilliance was arguably still not enough to compare with the virtuoso
display he offered in the biggest of matches this season: Arsenal’s 2-1 win
over Manchester City. Once more he had a hand in both goals, setting up Theo
Walcott’s opener before a slide-rule finish released Giroud for the other.
At the halfway point of one of the most tempestuous seasons in recent memory
Ozil has been one of the few constants, a consistent star whose only
challenger for the Player of the Year awards is likely to be Riyad Mahrez.
As Ozil continues to shine the nagging question at the back of Wenger’s mind,
and his fans, may be whether Arsenal have become too reliant on the sole
world-class player currently fit in his squad. Certainly there were occasions
in the Bournemouth match where the team’s tactics scarcely went beyond
feeding the playmaker and waiting for magic.
It paid off yet again, but how would Arsenal have fared this season without
Ozil’s prodigious return of goals and assists?
The answer, unsurprisingly, is not at all well. Strip out Ozil’s contribution
to the team and Arsenal would be 11 points worse off, languishing in in ninth
place behind the unheralded likes of Stoke City, Watford and Crystal Palace.
On six occasions this season the German international’s contributions have
been decisive in Arsenal’s results; without him they would have an additional
three losses (to Tottenham, Norwich and Manchester City) and just eight wins
at the halfway stage of the season.
A Premier League without Mesut Ozil
Team W D L Pts
Man City 12 2 4 38
Leicester 11 5 2 38
Tottenham 10 7 1 37
C/Palace 9 5 5 32
Man United 8 6 5 30
West Ham 7 8 4 29
Watford 8 5 6 29
Stoke 8 5 6 29
Arsenal 8 4 7 28
Wenger’s side would have just 14 goals to their name, a tally even worse than
bottom side Aston Villa. And the manager has acknowledged just how critical
his star man is after the Bournemouth win.
He said: “Mesut was the focal point of our team because we had a new midfield
today and he gives reassurance with his technical security and ability.
“When we had problems in the first part of the game it went always through
him and it gives you confidence and security.”
It may be a counter-factual but it only serves to reinforce just how lost
Arsenal would be if their star man were taken from them.
Chelsea relegation a possibility, admits Courtois
Thibaut Courtois has fired a warning to his Chelsea teammates after saying
the champions cannot think they will not be relegated this season.
The Blues managed to survive several attacks from Manchester United at Old
Trafford on Monday evening to secure a goalless draw, which lifts Chelsea
into 14th place in the Premier League standings.
Despite the result and indeed their win over Sunderland last weekend, the
champions remain just three points off the drop zone going into the second
half of the season.
Courtois believes Chelsea were much improved against the Red Devils when
compared to recent displays, but remains wary of the team’s precarious
position in the standings.
Speaking to BT Sport, the Chelsea defender said: “They wanted to win in front
of their fans. From the start they put high pressure on us.
“Without a striker, it wasn’t easy for us to find depth but we had chances
and David [de Gea] played well. The team showed progression, which was good.
“You cannot think it’s not possible to get relegated, but we look forward,
and we think that soon we will get the winning flow.”
Nemanja Matic missed Chelsea’s best chance to snatch a victory when he blazed
his second-half effort high after being set up by Pedro on the counter
attack.
Courtois rued the midfielder’s miss, but insisted Chelsea are slowly but
surely regaining the kind of form that saw them win the Premier League title
in May.
Reflecting on Matic’s chance, Courtois said: “It’s a pity Matic doesn’t
score. It’s more difficult for us than last year, but I think we are getting
into a flow to win games.”
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