Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal: Complete 2018/19 season player ratings

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 01: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal (L) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium on April 01, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 01: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal (L) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United at Emirates Stadium on April 01, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Mesut Ozil
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – MAY 29: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal removes his runners up medal following his team’s defeat in the UEFA Europa League Final between Chelsea and Arsenal at Baku Olimpiya Stadionu on May 29, 2019 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /

Mesut Ozil – 4.75

Oh dear, Mesut Ozil. After being a handed a £350,000-a-week contract six months before the start of the season, it was hoped that Emery would be able to get the best out of the German. Ozil, though, clearly wanted little part in what his new manager was planning and was quickly banished to the sidelines.

Then, a series of mysterious illnesses and back problems meant he missed a substantial number of games, roughly a third, while Emery also continued to drop him from the starting XI and even on a couple of occasions the playing squad altogether. Ozil being the brilliant player he is was still able to produce those magic moments that few others in the world can replicate, but his overall production and commitment was severely lacking.

All this culminated in the Europa League final in which he went completely missing. Emery hooked him before the end in one of the most pointed substitutions of the season and his replacement, 19-year-old Joe Willock produced more moments in the remaining 13 minutes. Ozil was bad by any standards this season. By the standards set by a £350,000-a-week contract, the less said the better.