Arsenal: Does anyone still believe in Mesut Ozil redemption?

I’m an optimist at my core, but any talk of Mesut Ozil redeeming himself at Arsenal has to be treated like idle chatter. Does anyone believe in it?

Here at Pain in the Arsenal, I’m known as the overly optimistic American. I have never predicted an Arsenal loss (I also don’t bet on matches, thank God). I always believe we can sign whoever we want, because everyone wants to play at the Emirates. I even have a hard time hating Stan Kroenke (he’s from my home state, and all Missourians are good-natured!). But when it comes to Mesut Ozil… well…

There is talk going around the grounds about the German maestro. Not about the bleached blond, bet-losing hair. But about a potential redemption season.

And I can’t help but roll my eyes. Because every single season has been a redemption season for Mesut Ozil. Every single match last year was a redemption match, but every single time, he disappointed.

So what makes this year any different?

I guess the logic is that, with a new boss and the stakes set, Ozil has no choice. He either has to perform or sit on the bench. But it was the same last year and he didn’t change.

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Maybe it’s that he needed a preseason to clear his head, to get his bearings, and to reassess how much he loved the club. And maybe all the trouble he had with Unai Emery has fixed itself, and Emery is giving him one more “do or die” season. Which seems uncharacteristically foolish of Emery, but hey, we’re talking about it, so let’s explore every option.

I just don’t see, even with my optimistic heart, what we could have to look forward to with Ozil next season. He’s been anticlimactic ever since he arrived. Yes, even in his 19 assist season, where he was only good half the year.

Moments of magic aren’t enough to offset general ineffectiveness, and I can’t see that changing just because people are asking him to change. He’s had over five years to adapt to the Premier League. It just isn’t the league for him.

So unless the club around him gets substantially better, to the extent that they can protect his downfalls, then I don’t see anything changing.

Of course, this is the part where I say I would love to be proven wrong. I want to see peak Ozil, I just don’t think we will ever consistently see it so long as he is at this club.