Well that's not true at all. Unless you missed the entire first half. Meh, we're obviously seeing very different things in the same games of football. So I'm going to agree to disagree.
Mesut Özil
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Well that's not true at all. Unless you missed the entire first half. Meh, we're obviously seeing very different things in the same games of football. So I'm going to agree to disagree.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/mesut-ozil-alexis-sanchez-arsenal-premier-league/
Think this article explains Ozil's game pretty well.
He's not a flashy player but he works hard, one game Sky had a stat showing he covered more distance than Sanchez that day. Perhaps its his body language and languid playing style that make people think he's lazy but if he was, he wouldn't be in the team. Wenger himself has come out and said recently that he only wants players who work hard at both ends of the pitch. He's been true to his word as well with Podolski and Arshavin both being frozen out from the team due to their lack of defensive work and even Walcott now, who is often guilty of the same thing, barely features at the moment.
Could he do more? Perhaps but so could every other player in world football
Is he a great player? Yes
I blame the Monaco defeat solely on the shoulders of our strikers who failed to score and our defense who gave up three easy goals. Ozil, Sanchez and Cazorla were the only players who came out of that match with some credibility.
Think this article explains Ozil's game pretty well.
He's not a flashy player but he works hard, one game Sky had a stat showing he covered more distance than Sanchez that day. Perhaps its his body language and languid playing style that make people think he's lazy but if he was, he wouldn't be in the team. Wenger himself has come out and said recently that he only wants players who work hard at both ends of the pitch. He's been true to his word as well with Podolski and Arshavin both being frozen out from the team due to their lack of defensive work and even Walcott now, who is often guilty of the same thing, barely features at the moment.
Could he do more? Perhaps but so could every other player in world football
Is he a great player? Yes
I blame the Monaco defeat solely on the shoulders of our strikers who failed to score and our defense who gave up three easy goals. Ozil, Sanchez and Cazorla were the only players who came out of that match with some credibility.
So true. I must have dreamt up all those assist stats he was racking up at Madrid, the same one's Arsenal fans were fond of bringing up when he first joined. Now, only the most observant eyes can see his ability. The average fan is doomed to die without appreciating Ozil's invisible quality.
Shockingly he has less assists playing with Giroud and Welbeck than Ronaldo and Benzema.
Think he's still doing alright for assists as is. Like I pointed out on the last page, he's been involved in half of Arsenal's goals since he came back from injury. In fact if anyone is going through a little dip in returns right now it's probably Sanchez.
Going through quite a big dip since Ozil came back into the Arsenal team. I suspect this isn't a coincidence. It also goes against this "Ozil makes players better" rhetoric. He seems to be having quite the opposite effect on Arsenal's best player.
Hard to tell, but I suspect it's just as likely to be post-WC fatigue. He had a long season, followed by a long, tough summer, then launched straight into a new league which is more physically demanding than he's ever experienced, without even the winter break he's accustomed to.
There's certainly a lot that you can criticise Özil for, but blaming him for Sanchez' dip in form now is a bit silly. It's not like Sanchez has been the most consistent player ever in the past years and some weird tactical change to include Özil causes his problems.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure the productivity of all the individual Arsenal attackers has decreased since Ozil came back, except for Giroud whose output has improved.
Still though, the overall Arsenal attacking output has increased since he's returned and he's been at the centre of most of what they create.
Plus fatigue might be playing a part too. It's probably no coincidence that both Ozil and Giroud have played fewer games this season than the rest.
Sounds a lot like Özil makes the team overall play better. Wasn't that the point? They're less dependent on individuals creating something on their own. That's a good thing in my book.
I think it's more to do with him being tired and (was) coming back from an injury.
Giroud is not the best striker to capitalise on Ozil's ability as he is simply just not quick or agile enough. Giroud likes to play one-twos and holds the ball up, whereas Ozil has made his name threading passes through to the on-running forwards.
Sanchez's slight dip in form
has more to do with fatigue than Özil. If anything, Özil's return coincided with other players picking up the slack and taking the scoring load off Alexis. We've played much better as a team since Özil's return.
Sanchez didn't look fit when he came back. Still too individualistic for overall team play, he carried us up to Xmas but needs to play Wengerball as we get more of our better players back and fit.
He's got big holes in his game for a 40 million quid player. In the middle third, he's rather pointless. He's so weak and soft that he can't dictate the game, regardless of how intelligent he is. Then in the final third he's only relevant when there's space around. Space is generally around when a teams in transition so the rest of the time he's not going to add much. Then there's the fact that he's everything but a natural goal scorer. He's also an all round defensive liability, not one to do anything in the wars so to speak.
Very good player with great field vision. In his type of game he's got the highest peak of all arsenal players and can be a destructive force, unfortunately in different conditions he's likely to be a liability rather than an asset.
Very good player with great field vision. In his type of game he's got the highest peak of all arsenal players and can be a destructive force, unfortunately in different conditions he's likely to be a liability rather than an asset.
Bollocks. Oezil is the best #10 in the world for the positions he picks up in the final third. He's so aware of what's around him and his passing is so crisp and accurate, if Arsenal had a proper centre forward then Oezil would receive a lot more praise than he does currently.
I do think that his return has been detrimental to Sanchez though. Alexis spent a lot of time either playing through the middle of naturally drifting inside which gave him better opportunities to get into goal scoring positions. With Oezil playing #10, he doesn't get the same opportunities and is forced to play more of his football outwide. This is better for Arsenal as a team though, having Sanchez carry them through the first half of the season was not a healthy position for them to be in.
I do think that his return has been detrimental to Sanchez though. Alexis spent a lot of time either playing through the middle of naturally drifting inside which gave him better opportunities to get into goal scoring positions. With Oezil playing #10, he doesn't get the same opportunities and is forced to play more of his football outwide. This is better for Arsenal as a team though, having Sanchez carry them through the first half of the season was not a healthy position for them to be in.
Well said.
di Maria did more than fish-face in the cup match
expect more than a couple of nice passes every 5th or 6th game for £ 40 M
london-media / Arse hype
expect more than a couple of nice passes every 5th or 6th game for £ 40 M
london-media / Arse hype
Tremendous delicate clipped cross when through on goal yesterday. 
<--- this looks a bit like him, innit
<--- this looks a bit like him, innitI almost spat out my beer when he did that 
In fairness if he'd hit it better it would've been an easy finish for Theo.
He played well yesterday.
In fairness if he'd hit it better it would've been an easy finish for Theo.
He played well yesterday.
At one point in the 2nd half, he had 3 unmarked Arsenal players on the far post begging for a half decent cross. He ended up chipping the cross to Adrian. He passes and crosses the ball like he's on his last legs and has no energy to spare.
On such a good run of form.
That was hilariousTremendous delicate clipped cross when through on goal yesterday.
hehe,
, I like it. The little pass to Giroud looks quite inviting too. But, no, far post it is.... Best #10 in the world, sickens me that he's at Arsenal.
Is he feck.
Arsenal fans will try to tell you he's some uber-refined player who the philistines don't appreciate - that is, of course, a load of old bollocks.
The chipped ball to Walcott yesterday when he should've squared to Giroud was a joke. Terrible decision making.
It's not bollocks at all, it's absolutely spot on. There's no better 10 in the world in the final third, his movement, passing, intelligence, awareness is just utterly breathtaking. I've not seen anyone mention how he was the one who creates Arsenals first goal against us yet, that's an example of his subtle qualities. Out of interest, who's better than him do you think?
I would have Silva over Ozil every time.
The guy just goes missing for large periods of games and in big games where the tempo is quick and tackles are flying in he is guaranteed to go missing most the time.
He's up there, but Silva's definitely better at the moment.
Created the first goal? The feck he did. That was all Ox and then some horrendous tracking back by Di Maria and awful defending from Valencia. The fact that Ozil is being credited with creating that goal with his "subtle" qualities says it all about how he's been playing.
Because Silva is a combative midfielder who will put his foot in, and there lies the difference? He's just as much of a culprit as anyone, and I don't blame them either because that's not their game. Two blissfully creative, intelligent midfielders but one must be discredited for not sticking his foot in, such a British point of view.
You talk about big game players, this is a player who performed in Clasicos, the feistiest/most prestigious derby in the world. A player that Ronaldo admitted was the player he enjoyed playing with the most. This is a player that was nominated for the Golden Ball after WC 2010 and created more chances than any German player in 2014 where he was a World Cup winner. This is a player who since coming back from injury, has scored in a North London derby and masterminded the only goal Arsenal created themselves to see them progress through to the FA Cup Semi's at Old Trafford. To suggest he isn't a big game player is quite frankly absurd.
What's funny?
How can you type so much with one hand?
The Ox was fantastic for goal obviously, there can be more than one player that creates a goal you know.
The space was originally created by Ozil dragging Smalling out of position with his one two and driving into the space. He then plays the ball into the space and drags Valencia with him on his run, making space for Monreal. Intelligence, that allows Oxlades magnificent dribble to be a crucial one. It's also worth boring that he'd have probably got an assist had he had a half decent striker upfront, but unfortunately for him, Welbeck didn't think a 30 yard gap between our centre halves was enough to make a run.
Fast fingers.
Ozil is a precious player who is alright for his 'subtleties' at home but there's no chance in hell he's anywhere near the best #10, even with bizarre caveats like 'in the final third'.
Silva isn't combative or someone capable of putting his foot in.
He is a better and more versatile #10 than Özil though.