Arsenal: Like him or loathe him, Mesut Ozil is vital

Many people adorn Mesut Ozil with praise and celebration; others are far more critical of his style and substance. Either way, if you like him or loathe him, he is undeniably crucial to Arsenal’s fate.

The season is drawing near. It is around this point every year that I get a hopeless, unfounded optimism for the upcoming campaign. It is just natural fandom. Even in the most unreasonable, ungrounded terms, it is easy to see the positive side of what is to come and be excited about it.

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And for Arsenal, there is much to be hopeful for. This is a new era at the football club. Arsene Wenger has departed, for better or worse. Unai Emery is now in charge. Ivan Gazidis, for now, and his band of merry men are behind the scenes running the inner-workings of the club. There is anticipation for the season ahead.

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At the heart of it all is one heavily divisive individual. Perhaps the most talented in the squad, oft-misunderstood, intensely and sometimes unfairly scrutinised, lacking the production that his potential protrays, this attacking midfielder of sublime skill, exquisite artistry and maddening inconsistency is the key to this Arsenal team. Yes, like him or loathe him, Mesut Ozil is central to everything.

The debate surrounding Ozil’s influence, his ability, his production, will never end. His staunchest supporters and fiercest critics are simply unwavering in their stance. Ozil is he who is to them, and that will not be changing any time soon. But what cannot be doubted is that Arsenal’s fate will largely be linked to that of the German playmaker.

Ozil was always essential to Wenger’s ploys during the four years he has been at the club. Although his position has shifted from left midfield to central attacking midfield to left wing, he was always the creative fulcrum of the side, the player tasked with both controlling the game and carving out chances and goals. There is no reason to expect that reliance on Ozil not to continue.

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As illustrated in the two preseason matches that Ozil has played in this summer, Emery has given him free reign, deploying him in a second-striker role and wide-left role, but both with the license to drift into other areas of the pitch, allowing him to heavily and consistently influence the game.

Ozil scored the opening goal against Paris Saint-Germain in Singapore. He followed that up with an excellent 90-minute display against Chelsea, in which he was at heart of absolutely everything that Arsenal did. In fact, a large reason as to why Chelsea’s mastered control of the game did not extend past the opening 30 minutes was that Ozil dropped into deeper positions to receive the ball and dictate play a little more, helping an overrun midfield that was struggling to supply the front line under pressure from Chelsea’s midfield and attack.

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There may be many who will never appreciate Ozil’s unique ability, his artistry on the ball, his vision, his passing range, his creativity and flair; there may be many who will never accept his flaws, his laziness, his fluctuations, his anonymity against the best. But whatever you think about him, he will be key to Arsenal this season.

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