Arsenal: Mesut Ozil’s proof legitimately is in the pudding

Arsenal’s success is down to Mesut Ozil being out of the starting XI. At least that is one opinion. But the proof really is in the pudding, isn’t it?

Arsenal’s recent struggles have often come down to a seeming lack of energy or drive. Which is what has always made Mesut Ozil a point of contention. For such a talented, magical player, he certainly doesn’t display much energy or drive.

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It’s being talked about even more these days, with Ozil having missed on on some of the Gunners more successful matches without missing a beat from the German’s absence. It doesn’t help his case much of being a necessary presence.

I will rarely ever agree wholeheartedly with someone on the television. But former Liverpool man Phil Babb seems to have take the words right out of my mouth (literally). Here’s what he had to say on SkySports:

"This is my personal opinion, I think Mesut Ozil is a luxury player. I think in the modern-day Premier League you need work-rate, you need pace. Ozil play and strolls around the pitch in his own fashion. Yeah, technically very, very gifted but I think you have to play at a certain intensity. So he’s a bit of a luxury player. Take him out of the side, put someone else in that’s got a little bit more energy. The proof’s in the pudding isn’t it, they’ve won more games without him in the side"

If I had a dollar for every time I called Ozil a luxury player, I’d have about twelve or so dollars and I’d be damn glad for it.

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Like Babb said, and like many others have said before him, how can you deny this? The proof really is in the pudding. The Gunners are not only not struggling without Mesut Ozil, they seem to be more energized, more potent and more capable of convincing wins.

Others have been less kind in their description of Ozil, calling him a passenger and a bystander. I wouldn’t go that far. Ozil has his merits. He is, after all, a world class creator. But you can’t expand his use much beyond that. He creates.

If you have the luxury of being able to dedicate an entire position towards the creation of chances, then Ozil is the man for you. But Arsenal do not have that luxury. They need someone who can do more than just create and that’s why I’m just tickled by the idea of Leon Goretzka replacing him.

Losing out on a bit of that one-dimensional ability will help open up more energy within the club.

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You’ve all seen the figures, no one creates better than Ozil. No one can deny him that honor. I’m just here to expand on what Babb is saying – that right now, chances aren’t the endgame. We need more than that. We need a wholesome, all-around player who is going to do even more.