Arsenal: Is Mesut Ozil only a “tactical” fit at the Emirates?

Mesut Ozil captained Arsenal again against Burnley at the Emirates, and that has become the theme of Ozil’s career – “at the Emirates.”

I was more than a bit surprised to see Mesut Ozil not only in the Arsenal starting XI against Burnley, but also with the captain’s armband. There is certainly a disconnect between Unai Emery and the German magician that is driving some tension between them, but Emery clearly had no problem giving him another chance.

Then again, is it something that should have been surprising? Because, while there are very few things that are a guarantee with Ozil, one thing that seems to be more likely than anything else is that, when he does get a chance, it will be at the Emirates.

It was Arsene Wenger that said that Mesut Ozil needs support to be effective, essentially asking Arsenal fans to support him and, needless to say, Ozil is not going to get “needed support” away from the Emirates in front of jeering fans from other places.

Maybe part of whatever plan Emery has with Ozil involves playing him primarily at the Emirates. But let me stop hypothesizing and pull out the numbers.

Now, for the sake of the numbers, I’m leaving out Burnley, and I’ll explain why at the end, but let’s dig in to what Ozil’s season has looked like before Burnley.

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Of Ozil’s last seven Premier League starts, six have been at home. The exception being the disappointing draw with Crystal Palace.

At home, Ozil has gone the full 90 four of six times. In those six starts, he is averaging 86 minutes per start, 2.5 crated chances and just one dispossession, for a total of one created chance every half-hour or so, and one dispossession every 85 minutes.

Meanwhile, in away matches, he has played the full 90 just one time in five starts, averaging 66 minutes pear appearance, just 1.4 chances created (one every 47 minutes).

And the defensive numbers really stand out. Obviously Ozil isn’t known for his defensive work, but in those six home starts, he has won back the ball eight times. Meanwhile, in away starts, just one time in five starts.

There is a very clear contrast developing here. Now, I left off the Burnley match, because honestly, the Burnley match was an all-around odd one for Ozil. His numbers were paltry, and he had some truly ugly moments, but overall, there was a determination there for him that doesn’t get notice in statistics.

I’m not totally buying into my own narrative here, that Ozil is only going to be a home-game boy. That really just isn’t acceptable for what he is being paid. But, that said, it’s impossible to ignore that away matches clearly aren’t his jive.