Arsenal: Juventus not a bad Mesut Ozil safety net

Juventus are reportedly interested in signing Mesut Ozil. From an Arsenal perspective, the Old Lady might not be a bad safety net at all.

Mesut Ozil might well be enjoying the best season of his Arsenal career. This is his fifth year in North London. For much of it, a great debate has raged: Is he the quiet, unassuming, but calming, creative influence that goes unnoticed? Or is he just ineffective, lazy, apathetic and uncommitted? Well, if this current campaign is anything to go by, the answer is rather clear.

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Not only has Ozil flourished in games that he would have traditionally sulked into a state of anonymity, but he is performing consistently. Each and every week, it is Ozil that is the instigation of this team.

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We saw, in the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion, his importance. It was in his absence that his presence was most wonderfully understood. But while displays have been magnificent, the more marvellous they become, the larger the elephant in the room looms.

Ozil has just six months remaining on his current contract. This has been a long-running saga that most are simply tired of hearing about. Rumour and conjecture have reigned; clarity and certainty have been banished to the murky shadows of the modern media world. No one really knows what will happen. Not even Arsene Wenger.

But one thing that is now apparent is that Ozil is free to talk to foreign clubs about signing a pre-contract agreement, meaning that he will make the official transfer in the summer — he can talk to English clubs regarding a pre-contract agreement a month before his contract expires. And that has led to a new style of rumour: the foreign departure.

The most notable reports regarding Ozil’s future, to this point, have centred around Manchester United and their supposed interest. There hasn’t been much mention of any interest from on the continent. Until now. Sky Sports are reporting that Juventus are considering the possibility of entering into talks with Ozil, as they have already have done, successfully, with Liverpool’s Emre Can.

Now, I do not want to see Ozil leave. If there is a chance that Arsenal can keep him, then they should be doing everything they can to make the most of that chance. But if Wenger is resigned to losing his most prized asset, then losing him to Juventus is not the worst thing in the world.

I was speaking with a Liverpool-supporting friend about the Philippe Coutinho situation, asking him who he would like to see replace the Barcelona-bound Brazilian. He said Ozil, not that that is especially likely. And it got me thinking of how dangerous that team would be with Ozil at the heart of it. It is a terrifying prospect. And it’s one that Arsenal must hope to avoid.

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So Ozil moving to Juventus, playing in Italy, not benefitting a direct rival would be hugely helpful. It is never ideal to see a top player leave, as the German unquestionably is. But if he does leave, at least make it somewhere like Juventus. The Old Lady is not a bad safety not whatsoever.