Arsenal: Leon Goretzka a massive upgrade on Mesut Ozil

Arsenal will have to be crafty to replace their want-away superstars, but no one should be considered before the ultimate upgrade, Leon Goretzka.

Whatever state you may think Arsenal will be in after they inevitably lose Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, the matter remains that they need to be replaced.

As far as Alexis Sanchez is concerned, I don’t think we will find many players that will be capable of one-upping what the Chilean brought to the club. Thomas Lemar is a fantastic transition, but he is not Alexis, at least not yet.

Mesut Ozil is a different story, however.

As he is such a luxury player, there are numerous areas of his game that you can find improved in other options. For instance, pace, work rate, defensive contribution, direct threat to goal, these are all areas that are far from Ozil’s wheelhouse that the Gunners can easily improve upon with someone else.

There are plenty of options to one-up Ozil, but only one stands out like none other, and that is Leon Goretzka. The budding German international was yet again on display in international break, nabbing himself a brace and building his resume in front of goal eve more, particularly following that suave backheel.

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Goretzka is just 22 years old and he is already seeing his prowess in front of goal reaching dangerous levels. As a deep-lying midfielder with Schalke, you wouldn’t expect him to put up significant goal tallies, but if called upon to replace Ozil and given a forward role surrounded by world class players that he isn’t getting at Schalke?

Game over. In a good way.

Look at what Goretzka has been able to do in his brief time with Germany. Six goals in just twelve appearances. That is quite the developing resume that will only get better.

Replacing his countryman helps Arsenal to so many ends. That maligned work rate of Ozil will disappear behind the endless effort of Goretzka. That lack of physicality will dissipate behind the strength and determination of Goretzka.

This is the type of move that can change the very mentality of a team. Goretzka is a promising up and comer, but he isn’t anywhere near the superstar level of Ozil. Yet should this move happen, you will see an improvement that looks far too easy to have made.

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And I haven’t even mentioned that he is free. We just have to get ourselves into a Champions League place and the rest is up to our fearless manager.