Arsenal: Mesut Ozil shows the need for comfort

Mesut Ozil, per Arsene Wenger, is growing into his role in the new 3-4-3 system. His increasing adaptation to the position shows the importance of comfort in a formation.

The implementation of the 3-4-3 formation that Arsene Wenger surprisingly sprung on his Arsenal players is beginning to take shape. While initially, there was a clear defensive benefit to the new approach, when in possession, the side looked ponderous and lethargic, slowed by the slight confusion that they had with their respective roles.

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As a result, opposing teams were able to sit off, relinquishing possession, but ensuring that they remained disciplined and well-organised in their own defensive third. Because of the lack of pace to the attacking moves, rarely were the centre-halves dragged out of position, allowing them to simply marshall the width of the penalty area without too much trouble.

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However, against Manchester United, Southampton and now Stoke City in the past week, there have been signs that Arsenal are beginning to find their attacking form once more. One man who is starting show the same fluency and rhythm that defined his game earlier in the season is Mesut Ozil, and when asked about why there has been a recent upturn in his performance, Wenger said that he is blossoming in his new position:

"“That’s what you want from him. I think that he has blossomed in this position now and overall he enjoys it. I must say, individually when the confidence is high in the team, you see that all the players play well. Overall, I think we had an exceptional performance, we have a great team spirit and I am very proud of what we did.”"

Although he is still a little short of his ingenious best, Ozil looked far sharper and more creative in the win over Stoke, scoring a sumptuous goal after being found by an incisive Alexis Sanchez pass. His growing willingness to roam throughout the pitch, unshackled by the defensive duties that have weighed him down in the past, have coincided with a greater comfort and feel with his new role.

Formally, Ozil is classed as a wide player of a front three in this new formation. However, thanks to the presence of a wing-back and a third centre-half, he is not necessarily handed the defensive responsibility of tracking the opposing full-back, and is instead, given the licence to drift throughout the pitch, utilising the width from the wing-backs to find space in between the defensive ranks in the final third.

It is a role that suits his intelligent manner well. He is a player that is able to find space, receive the ball on the half turn and the begin to pick apart defences. But he has only begun to have his eyes opened to the freedom that this new position gives him as he and his teammates have become more accustomed to the formation as a whole.

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Tactics and systems and approaches and positions are all well and good. But without the players understanding their roles, their responsibilities and their freedom, they are meaningless. For Arsenal and Ozil, it is clear that the blend of comprehension and course is beginning to pay dividends.