Arsenal: Mesut Ozil The Decoder Needed To Solve The Mystery
By Josh Sippie
![SWANSEA, WALES - JANUARY 14: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal takes on Ki Sung-Yueng of Swansea during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Arsenal at Liberty Stadium on January 14, 2017 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) SWANSEA, WALES - JANUARY 14: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal takes on Ki Sung-Yueng of Swansea during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Arsenal at Liberty Stadium on January 14, 2017 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/418766a50a251a7c2172269ee21fd3b5ce08db1c37b0515fd8654d023faa159d.jpg)
Arsenal has a collection of world class talents that can turn the tides of a match, but what we have learned lately shows that Mesut Ozil is the key.
Every great puzzle has a key or a decoder. Every great mystery has a solution. Arsenal is one hell of a mystery and they definitely need their decoder to be made sense of. Through so many years, they have been right there, competing for the title, and through so many years, something happens.
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And there is no title.
It’s hard to discern, therefore, what the secret key is solving the great mystery that is this club. How do you turn this excellent collection of talent into a bona fide title champion? Arsene Wenger has been in the business for two decades, the fact that he can appear so stumped is indicative of how great this mystery is.
I believe the decoder is Mesut Ozil. The German maestro has had matches where the world rested on his toe and he has had games where he has punted that world into the twelfth row and that was that.
It’s true that sometimes the criticism of Ozil can be too harsh, but the reason why that happens is because of how massive of an impact this man can have. And not to justify Adebayor’s bullish comments, but it really is a different Arsenal when Ozil isn’t right.
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He is that central cog that holds it all together, the creative centrifuge. And I believe that it is finding consistency in him that will solidify the Gunner’s as title champions.
This club can cope without Ozil. They can cope without any single human. But again, the benefits of having Ozil in tact and firing are plain to see. He makes everyone better. He radiates positivity. Hell, he makes Theo Walcott look like a world beater.
That kind of emanation affects the team far more than when Alexis takes over a game all on his own. Not trying to take away from the Chilean’s efforts, but it’s easier to shut down one powerhouse than an entire area of inspiration caused by Ozil’s brilliance.
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The question has always been finding the consistency with the Gunners and Ozil can be that key. He can be that decoder. If he can come into his own as the season goes into the final stretch, then these Gunner’s will be right there at the top.