ARSENAL MANAGER ARSENE WENGER declared he would only add to his squad if he found a player of real quality.
In securing the services of Mesut Özil, the Frenchman has delivered on his words and signalled his team’s intentions to pursue trophies again. The German international was signed from Real Madrid, late last night, for a fee of £42.5m that smashed Arsenal’s club record.
With Isco on the scoresheet twice for Los Blancos at the weekend, Luke Modric enjoying the early season faith of new boss Carlo Ancelotti and Gareth Bale the new darling in Madrid, Özil has found himself shoved out. One can only assume that the 24-year-old did not receive the necessary assurances that he would be a regular [or well paid] starter.
Özil, who arrived from Werder Bremen in 2010 despite interest from Manchester United, was a successful signing for Real. In his first season in Spain, he scored 10 goals and was responsible for an impressive 25 assists in 53 outings.
His goal return dipped to six the following year but he contributed 24 assists during a season in which Barcelona’s domestic dominance was halted and a La Liga title was captured. The footballing earth returned to its axis last season with Barca won the league but Özil was majestic for their main rivals as he found the net 10 times and laid on 19 assists. In 155 games with Real, the German had a hand in 94 goals. That is second only to Cristiano Ronaldo [152 goals and 39 assists in 163 games].
Arsenal’s midfield trio of Aaron Ramsey, Tomás Rosicky and Jack Wilshere [then Mathieu Flamini] were comfortable in possession in their 1-0 win over Spurs yesterday. Their new signing will slot straight in as an attacking spearhead and, with Santi Cazorla on one wing and Theo Walcott on the other, the Gunners midfield looks threatening.
The goal and assist statistics are the trimmings on Özil’s game but he is an assured passer and renowned for his hard work and durability. Former Real boss Jose Mourinho was credited for impressing a hard work ethic during his time at the Bernabéu. The manager/player relationship between the duo was strong, demonstrated when Özil took to his Facebook page to wish him good luck following his re-appointment at Chelsea.
For the second time in three years, United have missed out on the very player that would have answered all their needs for a creative midfielder with a goalscoring threat. The Premier League champions may have baulked at the £7m a year wage demands from Özil’s agent, his father. Wenger has long proclaimed that there is money to spend and he seems content to spend a huge chunk of it on his new playmaker’s wages.
He has pulled off an impressive coup in securing the German’s services but he must ensure there is a ready supply of spreadable chocolate goodness at The Emirates:
YouTube credit: Fiona DiegoForlan
