Arsenal: There is a Mesut Ozil-sized gap in this club

Arsenal and Mesut Ozil are in another tenuous stretch of their relationship, but it’s clear to see how perfect of a fit he could still be.

Arsenal‘s attack continues to be the buoy that keeps the defense from sinking the ship. Between Lacazette and Aubameyang, the threat is always going to be there to put up some pretty impressive tallies.

And even if the chances aren’t coming from the same reliable sources, there are still plenty with which to pick up points and keep the unbeaten streak alive and well.

That said, not knowing who is going to be creating the chances on any given match day is kind of a stressful thing. Especially because, when you think about it, the primary chance creators should be the attacking midfielders. That is why they are nestled so far in front of the defense and right in behind the strikers they are supposed to be feeding.

Yet, in the past three matches, the starting two (yes, two) attacking midfielders have only managed to create six chances combined. That means they are averaging, as a unit, two chances per match.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Sead Kolasinac has had ten of his own in that span and the starting holding midfielders have created seven.

Suffice to say, the creative attacking midfielders are struggling to pull that weight. Now, that said, substitutions like Aaron Ramsey against Tottenham, or Mkhitaryan against United, have made a difference, but the main reason those substitutions are even needed is because the guys that are starting are not creating enough chances.

Mesut Ozil is a creative attacking midfielder who was – and still is – often criticized for only creating chances and not doing anything else. Come hell or high water, Ozil was always reliable to creating solid chances. Since he joined Arsenal, the least he has ever averaged across and entire year is 3.0. The most? 4.2.

It looks, on paper, like the exact thing the Gunners need most right now is someone like Ozil, who can be called upon to create consistent chances, yet it is Ozil whose long-term status with the club is now in question more than ever before. The fact that he is only creating 2.0 chances a game isn’t helping.

And yet, wouldn’t it make sense to march Ozil back out there and tell him that his one job is to do what he does best? Even if that means sacrificing some of the effort that he’s been putting in lately. At this point, just having a consistent font of chances would be a boost to the club, as their are making up for it in the effort department with everyone else.