Arsenal: Mesut Ozil’s words utterly empty and unfounded

Mesut Ozil has stated that he is happy at Arsenal, reiterating his commitment to the club, for now. But his words are empty and unfounded. They fly in the face of his behaviour this season.

Integrity is a wonderful trait. In an increasingly confusing and muddled modern world, especially when it comes to the corridors of professional sport, of which much happens behind the veils of privacy and protection, it is a characteristic that is only growing in its uniqueness. I guess, then, that makes it all the more special when it is found.

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As such, I would love to be writing this piece as an appraisal of someone’s integrity — of their words and action both portraying a unified and connected picture. But, as is often the case with Arsenal football club, that is not the case.

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The latest to belie integrity is Mesut Ozil. Speaking ahead of Germany’s upcoming international friendlies with England and France, Ozil reiterated the stance that he is happy at the Emirates, that he is having fun, even though he is in the final year of his contract and does not know what lies ahead, and that he ignores what outside speculation and criticism may say of his recent performances:

"“Obviously, people are going to write and speculate. But I am 100 percent an Arsenal player. I want to perform here and have fun here. ‘I’m enjoying my time here but I can’t say what will happen in the future. Having high expectations, on one hand, is an honour because it shows people exactly what I can do and what I am. On the other hand, it’s of no interest to me. As I’ve said in the past, what’s most important to me is what the coach thinks.”"

Now, I assume, you can begin to see why I started this piece by talking about integrity. Because Ozil’s words and Ozil’s actions do not go hand in hand. What he says and what he does are not one and the same. His proclamations are difficult to believe. They seem empty, unfounded. In fact, without knowing the truth, they seem like a lie.

Throughout this season, Ozil has looked distant and disinterested. His meandering for Watford’s winning goal; his odd and unusual knee injury that forced him out of the trip to Stamford Bridge; his anonymous performance against Manchester City on Sunday, another in the long list of away trips against the traditional top six in which he has gone missing.

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Ozil may be saying one thing. But he is, from my perspective, which, admittedly, is nothing more than a mere writer watching from the stands and the TV screen, not acting in the same manner. He lacks integrity. That makes him very difficult to believe. Let’s hope that he proves me wrong.