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Arsenal: ‘Angry’ Mesut Ozil Becoming More And More The Villain
Mesut Ozil reportedly kicked a door down in frustration after Arsenal’s loss to Tottenham Hotspur. The German is becoming more and more the villain.
The dominating narrative of the Arsenal season has centred on the futures of three key men: Arsene Wenger, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. Each seems intertwined with the other; their fates – and the club’s, given their respective importance and influence – are inseparable.
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That is why this summer is such a defining one. Wenger’s future, while reportedly agreed upon behind closed doors, is still uncertain, at least from the external perspective of this mere blogger. Sanchez has visibly grown increasingly frustrated with life at the Emirates, gesticulating with his teammates, fighting on the training ground and stropping when substituted by Wenger. And now his play has deteriorated badly in recent weeks, hinting that he is no longer passionate about the future of the club.
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Ozil, meanwhile, has grown into a periphery figure of the squad, going repeatedly missing in the big games, as he did in Sunday’s North London derby, and is seemingly nearing an exit, as he too grows embittered with life at Arsenal. Such discontentment spilled over in the aftermath of the loss to Spurs, when the German, having been requested to attend a routine drugs test, kicked down a door in the dressing room, imprinting stud marks in the lower part of the door.
The action in and of itself is no real issue. In fact, it’s quite refreshing to see the usually ambivalent German show a little passion regarding the struggles of him and his teammates. However, it is yet another sign that the dressing room at London Colney is filled with friction and unrest, and that Ozil could well leave this summer.
Had that suggestion been made just six months ago, fans would have been horrified at the thought. Ozil was seen as the creative linchpin of the side, the attacking force that is essential to the success of the club. Now, that could not be farther from the truth.
In fact, I believe that if you asked a number of Arsenal fans, they would be happy to see him sold, such has been the laziness of his performances in the latter half of the season. And that is the character into which the German has grown this season: after being the hero, he has, as Harvey Dent would say, lived long enough to become the villain.
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Whether the Gunners should work to keep Ozil at the club is now a question up for debate. I would never have envisaged that there would be any doubt, just a few months ago. And now, seeing him leave may well be the best thing for the club. What a turnaround!