Arsenal: Mesut Ozil Exit Shouldn’t Break Any Hearts

Arsenal are hitting some turbulence with their other superstar now, the one that isn’t Chilean, but losing Mesut Ozil shouldn’t break any hearts.

Arsenal entered into a new era when they purchased Mesut Ozil in the summer of 2013. The debt was over, a new superstar was here.

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But it was so rocky when he first arrived and people began clamoring for an immediate departure. He was pushed around and largely embarrassed at the completion of his first year, accumulating minuscule stats and never looking himself.

Then the big injury came in his second year and after that, it was pure gold. He shaped up, got in physical shape, and just like that, he was on top of the world. 19 assists.

But there were signs of trouble when the assists dried up at the end of the year and that trouble has carried over into this year. So much so that it almost feels like the German has handcuffed the club. He apparently has to play the No. 10 role, which means that only the 4-2-3-1 would do, but that rigid formation benefits Ozil and Ozil alone.

So many other talented players just don’t work in that scheme and it was proven even more ineffective when the 4-3-3 came bursting out of the gates, with the free-roaming midfield three rather than the rigid triangle.

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Now, rumors are emerging that there is trouble in paradise (or more trouble in a troubled paradise?) because Ozil has traveled with the German National team and could potentially play on Wednesday against England.

Which is odd, seeing as how he was not well enough physically to travel with the team to West Brom, which is a hell of a lot shorter of a travel and a hell of a lot more important to the club that he supposedly loves.

If Ozil runs out there in the starting XI looking fit and happy, expect a firestorm against him. But at the same time, his exit shouldn’t break too many hearts. We all fell in love with Ozil last year, but that one year period of relevance has been offset by two years of struggles and hardships.

It culminated with his agent coming out and declaring that Ozil just isn’t the type of guy to hustle just to make it look like he is working hard (I am paraphrasing).

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Losing him in the summer wouldn’t be crippling or debilitating or anything like that. It was be sad, sure, because he captured Arsenal nation with his play. But in the spirit of moving forward, sometimes you have to take drastic steps.