Merson’s take on if Ozil should play or not

Paul Merson has said in his column that he believes Mesut Ozil should be starting the next few games for the club although it runs the risk of not being able to sell him in January.

Mesut Ozil should be starting Arsenal ’s next few games so they can take advantage of how badly Tottenham and Manchester United are struggling.

If Spurs and United don’t get their act together, Arsenal and Chelsea will finish in the top four – and now is the time to put them under pressure.

Five of Arsenal’s next seven games are against teams in the bottom half of the table, and the other two are against Crystal Palace and Leicester.

Arsenal have to make hay while the sun shines and their rivals are struggling, so they have got to put some points together in these games and go on a run.

It’s a big few weeks for them – and that’s why I would play Ozil. I personally think he’s their best player.

In terms of ability and talent he’s the best player at the club.

He’s a luxury player, and the manager has obviously decided he can’t carry a player like that in a team that’s already one of the worst around without the ball.

But with these games coming up, Arsenal are going to have 70% of the possession. He thrives in those situations.

Unai Emery should bring him in from the cold. But he won’t.

If he plays Ozil and they win, he has to keep playing him, and the manager doesn’t want that. The manager wants him out.

And if that’s the plan then they are going to have to swallow a pill and get rid of him in January come what may.

He’s on £350,000-a-week and he’s not playing and doesn’t look like having any chance of playing. I think that’s a mistake.

But if Emery has made his mind up, Arsenal are going to have to find him a move – and they will have to subsidise his wages to do it because no-one else is playing him that.

You have to say that the kids who have been getting in ahead of him have done well.

Emery has been getting good performances out of Dani Ceballos, Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson.

But I thought Ozil was Arsenal’s best player against Watford and he hasn’t played since. That shocked me to be honest.

If he’s showing it in training, he will be embarrassing a lot of the other players there, trust me. But he’s not getting picked.

I’ve had plenty of arguments about this with people who say: “Oh, he doesn’t work hard enough” – and that’s the way the game’s gone these days.

But I would still play him in these games. It was madness giving him the money they did.

And they won’t be able to sign a lot of players until his wages are off the books. But I still think he’s a proper player.

Will we ever see Mesut Ozil ripping it up somewhere else? It’s hard to say because you’re only as good as your team-mates and it depends where he goes.

But he’s not finished just because he’s hit 30. He still has more to give for me and could be a success somewhere else.

I would love to think Arsenal do put their foot down and make a real push for the top four in these next seven games.

These are the games. No doubt about it. The problem is the same one they’ve had for the last six or seven years – consistency. You really wouldn’t be shocked if they lose their next game.

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