Arsenal: Mesut Ozil Needs Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal lacked creativity in their 2-1 win over Southampton on Saturday, and Mesut Ozil in particular lacked his usual spark. Does he need Alexis Sanchez?

Arsenal added their second win of the Premier League season in stark contrast to how the first was won. While against Watford, the midfield was fluid and dynamic, creating chances, scoring goals and causing all sorts of problems, on Saturday afternoon, they struggled to break down a rigid Southampton defence that stood firm for the majority of the match.

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While the Saints were set up in a way to frustrate the Gunners by cramping the space in the middle of the park, Arsene Wenger was unable to set up a side unable to deal with the absence of Alexis Sanchez.

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Specifically, with the Chilean on the bench, Arsenal’s much depleted attacking threat allowed Southampton to hound the ball in their half with far more vigour and intensity without having to worry about leaving space in behind for Sanchez to exploit if given the opportunity.

The very presence of Sanchez creates space, purely due to the potential threat that he causes. Consequently, his absence from the side is felt even more as it has a detrimental effect on all the players around him. One man who was particularly missing the Gunners’ star attacker was one Mesut Ozil, who was not allowed any space whatsoever by a stubborn Southampton defence.

Ozil and Sanchez have developed a special relationship since their joining the North London club in consecutive summers. The shared footballing intelligence, an ability to find and exploit space in umatched within the squad. Because of the qualities of the two players, opposing teams have to account for both, providing only more space for one another.

Moreover, Sanchez is allowed, whether playing in a false nine or left wing position, to roam throughout. Consequently, he is very difficult to consistently pick up as an opposing defender, without a clear picture of where he ever is. Not many players are intelligent enough to utilise such clever and awkward movement. Ozil, though, is.

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The two together are a potent partnership. On their own, however, they do not possess the same threat or danger. While equally excellent players, they are reliant on each other to succeed, as evidenced by Ozil’s frustrating performance on Saturday.