Arsenal: Mesut Ozil is not the solution to this problem

Arsenal match-goers have completely lost their patience and turned on the club. But hopefully we’re all smart enough to know that Mesut Ozi isn’t the solution.

Arsenal match-goers did two highly questionable things against Crystal Palace. The first thing was the grotesque treatment they gave their captain, Granit Xhaka, driving him to the point of complete collapse. The second was chanting for Mesut Ozil as the match ended.

I can understand the snap impulse to look at the one person that hasn’t been used and dub him the solution to everything. It’s what you do when you’re desperate and aching for answers. You turn to the first thing you see.

The same goes when fans blame Granit Xhaka for entire losses. It’s easier to do than actually put together a cohesive thought. Just blame the first thing you see. Take the easy way out.

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but Mesut Ozil is not the solution to anything. He’s another option to the same end.

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Against Crystal Palace, creating chances was not the issue. The Gunners created 11. That’s a really good amount. It’s right at their season average of 10.3 per match, which, on the year, places them right at a hearty 5th place… right where they are in the actual table.

Creating idle chances is not the problem. Remember that time Ozil created six chances all on his own in the 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest and still managed to be relatively irrelevant? Yeah, chances aren’t the problem.

The problem is a complete collapse of the Unai Emery way. I wouldn’t even say that a lack of chances is the primary problem anymore. So even if you do stick him in there and he gives us a slight bump in the creation department, is that going to solve our defensive issues? Is that going to make this midfield more cohesive? Is that going to get Nicolas Pepe to shoot better? is that going to make Emery start the right guys on defense?

It is such an unnecessarily simple-minded approach to the problems the club is having and it makes those suggesting it look… simple-minded.

We need more help than Ozil can provide. Like I said, maybe he gives us a small boost, but how many times has he had a chance to be the solution to our creative problems and how many times has he failed? Every time. So what makes this time any different?