AHEAD OF ARSENAL’S weekend clash with Aston Villa, Arsene Wenger has backed record-signing Mesut Ozil to come good again, despite the German’s indifferent displays over recent weeks.
Ozil lasted 62 minutes before being substituted during the Gunner’s comprehensive 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday, something which has fuelled the criticisms of the player signed for £42.5million last September.
Wenger remains supportive of Ozil though has acknowledged the play-maker hasn’t hit top form yet this season:
He came back on August 11. You know it takes a few months for them to get back to their best, that can happen. They (critics) should not be concerned and just support him. I understand that you want your best players always to make the difference in every single game and we all go through period where we are a bit less good. You help. A club is a union between players, supporters and directors. You have to be united and sometimes go through periods together where it goes a bit less well. You have to accept that football is played by human beings who have ups and downs like you have in your life”
Many have questioned Wenger’s tactic in deploying Ozil on the left side rather than in a central attacking zone but the Arsenal manager dismissed the debate as a secondary concern.
“He has freedom to play when we have the ball and go where he wants. If you look at the heat map where he plays, you will be amazed where he is all over the pitch. What is difficult to manage today is that everybody knows absolutely everything and everybody judges people definitely on one game.”
“You have plenty of tacticians in the world who have managed zero games. You have to accept their opinion – they might be right, they might be wrong as well. They have to accept that. We live in a world where everybody has an opinion and we have to live with that. At the end of the day, somebody always has to make a decision and that’s the guy who is responsible.”
Wenger also gave an update on the fitness of Mathieu Debuchy, who suffered an ankle injury in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City. The French full-back may need an operation, depending on how badly damaged the ligament is. Should surgery be required, the former Newcastle man will face three months out but could be back in six weeks if the knock isn’t too serious.
The Gunners should have both Mathieu Flamini and Calum Chambers to be available after they both missed the clash with Dortmund.
