Unai Emery decided to field Mesut Ozil as a 60th-minute substitute during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Southampton but hardly got the reaction he wanted out of the German.
It is no secret that Ozil is not a favourite of the Gunners manager and the constant appearances from the club’s dugout rather than on the pitch only confirms the narrative. Plenty of Arsenal fans believe that Emery is in the wrong for underutilising one of the club’s best players.
However, from Sunday’s fixture, it can also be argued that the former Real Madrid player has done very little to reclaim a starting spot under the new boss. Other being a total defensive liability, it seems like Ozil has reached greater lengths of blithe even on the offensive end.
He came on for Aaron Ramsey in the hour mark and failed to impact the game whatsoever. Just minutes after getting onto the pitch, the 30-year-old had to be pulled back towards the sidelines by Emery to emphasize on the instructions already provided to him in a rather theatrical manner.
Steve Claridge, a former Cambridge United man said on BBC Radio 5 live, “Mesut Ozil is never going to run around. Out of possession, he’s never going to go and get the ball back.”
“So you either build the team around him, you make it all about him and his creativity, or you say he’s not the right fit for the team. We’re on the fence all the time, but it’s one of the two. Arsenal have to pick. Make your mind up, one way or another.”
See Also: Arsenal players contracts 2018/2019
Monchi set to reunite with Emery at Arsenal
