Arsenal: Does box-to-box midfielder abandon Mesut Ozil?

According to the Daily Mirror, Unai Emery’s key priority this summer is a new box-to-box midfielder. Does that spell the end of Mesut Ozil at Arsenal?

So far, we haven’t really gotten to see Unai Emery’s full-blown plan for the Arsenal first team laid out. Because of the limitations of the squad he inherited, along with a slew of injuries to irreplaceable players, his hands have been somewhat tied. What he does in the transfer market this summer, therefore, will provide a glimpse into his thinking.

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The positions that he targets, the type of player that he recruits, the players that he chooses to sell. All of these decisions will help peel back the picture on how he wants the team to play. And this week, John Cross of the Daily Mirror reported on Emery’s first priorities this summer.

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Cross claimed that Emery wants to sign a box-to-box midfielder, essentially to replace the outgoing Aaron Ramsey. But there was a particular comment that I found especially interesting. Cross stated that Emery wanted someone with the profile of a ‘strong, aggressive midfielder to be at the ‘front of the press.’ Cross’ reporting claims that Ramsey was not seen as that player, which is part of the reason for letting him leave, and that Ever Banega is closer to the profile that Emery is searching for.

While I would question why Ramsey cannot play this aggressive, pressure-inducing midfield role, — he seems perfectly suited to it in my book — if Cross’ reporting is accurate, there is serious reason to doubt where Mesut Ozil fits into the team as Emery continues to mould it into his image. If Ramsey does not suit this high-pressing role, then Ozil does not even come close.

And if Emery is to persist with the 4-3-3 that he used at Paris Saint-Germain and has hinted at during his first season in north London, then there is little room to carry Ozil in the central attacking midfield position. Even if the 4-2-3-1 is used, it feels as though Emery wants a more mobile presence in behind a central striker.

It seems, then, that Ozil’s time at Arsenal could be coming to an end. I am not here to say whether that is the right decision or not. There are plenty of arguments to be made either way, and, at the end of it all, it is too uncertain to land on either side with any semblance of force. But perhaps Emery is leaning the Ozil-less way.

Certainly, if Emery is wanting to utilise a more aggressive, high-pressing style, as he has stated in press conferences before, then it would be surprising to see Ozil fit. Although his recent performances have shown much more application, there is still a long way to go for him to be considered a dutiful servant of the defensive side of the game.

As a result, the reported search for a new box-to-box midfielder might well spend the end for Ozil. Right or wrong, Emery is making this team his own.