Arsenal: Time is now to see best Mesut Ozil

Mesut Ozil has retired from the German national team, accusing DFB President Reinhard Grindel and others of racism. Arsenal should welcome him with open and loving arms. It’s time to see the best Mesut Ozil.

Mesut Ozil has retired from the German national team. It is a sad state of affairs whenever there is such a vehement and public divorce between a player and organisation that have been intertwined during their collective best years. But here we are. The face of Das Reboot, the rejuvenation of the German footballing system, is retiring. Because of racism.

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First and foremost, this is a desperately dark time for football. No player or coach or fan or person involved with the sport should feel uncomfortable because of racism. Unfortunately, Ozil feels that he cannot continue playing for Germany because of racist attitudes and actions from many individuals, ranging from individual fans through to DFB President Reinhard Grindel.

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At 29, the 92-cap midfielder is a little young to be retiring from international, especially given that Germany will be one of the favourites for the upcoming European Championships in 2020 and World Cup in 2022, at which Ozil will be 31 and 33. That perhaps shows the extent of the problems. Ozil is willing to pass up on that opportunity because of the racism that he has encountered and experienced. That is revealing. But from an Arsenal perspective, the club now has an important role to play in Ozil’s remaining years.

Having recently signed a new £300-a-week contract in January that is set to keep him in North London until 2021, Ozil is clearly seen as one of the more important, pivotal pieces of the puzzle. Even if Arsene Wenger is no longer the architect, Ozil should still be seen as a central pillar of the Arsenal team. His talent and influence, when on-song, is reason enough for such an esteemed position.

And now he no longer has the physical demands of playing during international breaks, of travelling long distances with the German national team, of sacrificing rest and relaxation in the summer months for international tournaments. He can solely focus on his domestic form.

Moreover, Arsenal can be a sanctuary. His tempestuous time playing for Germany has clearly had an effect on his mental state. He would not have retired if it didn’t. As he prepares to return to north London to meet up with his new manager, Unai Emery, and re-acclimatise himself with his domestic club, the Gunners should be welcoming him with open arms, offering support for his decision, comforting and encouraging him, providing him with the perfect platform to stand up to the criticism he is facing from his homeland.

You see, now is the time for the best Mesut Ozil to come to the fore. With his back to the wall, with his critics circling, with a determined grit to prove Germany wrong, Ozil can respond best by how he plays on the pitch, by leading Arsenal forwards with inspiring, stirring displays, by consistently performing at the world-class level that he is capable, by showing commitment and courage as he returns to the game he loves.

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What Ozil has endured with Germany is grody; what he can now enjoy at Arsenal can be glorious. The time is now to see the best Mesut Ozil.