Arsenal and Mesut Ozil: Short term versus long-term perspective

Mesut Ozil is working his way back into the Arsenal picture after starting against Liverpool on Wednesday. How he is used this season will depend on the contrasting short and long-term perspectives.

Well, the Mesut Ozil debate is taking on new levels. After making just one appearance all season and being frozen out of the squad for the past six matches, Ozil finally returned to Arsenal’s starting line-up on Wednesday night, playing just over an hour against Liverpool.

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After the match, head coach Unai Emery, who is clearly not the greatest fan of Ozil, praised the German’s performance:

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"“I think he played very well. Tonight, you’ve seen he is a skilful player in the team and he was very positive every time and I think he played a very good match."

Naturally, Emery was then asked whether Ozil would now be reacclimated into the Premier League squad, starting against Wolves on Saturday. Emery did not hold back with his answer:

"“Yes, he will feature. We have a match on Saturday and we will look at the possibility to use him again alongside other players and this is the way sometimes.”"

Ozil, then, is set to play in the Premier League once again. Given the current options that Emery has available to him, the selection makes sense. But is it a smart move for the betterment of the club overall? Perhaps not.

As Emery looks to install an identity in the team, is building around a now 31-year-old attacking midfielder who does not work hard enough to fit into the rounded modern game a wise decision? Perhaps the most problematic element with the Ozil confusion is not his age but his fit with the trajectory of the modern game.

Increasingly, attacking, creative midfielders are having to produce more than just goals, assists and ingenuity in the final third. Teams press as a collective unit, they must track midfield runners, help break out of deep areas by holding onto the ball and progressing play, recover possession with frequency and physicality, not allow opponents to build play from deep. Ozil has the ability to do all of this, but he has proven over several years that he does not have the attitude to do so.

Some may argue that the ‘lazy’ argument is a tired one. Arsenal need Ozil’s creativity no matter what. And in the short term, that line of thinking may carry some credence. But looking longer-term, that is not quite accurate. Ozil does not fit into modern football anymore. Emery and the club would be wise to not build around him as a result.

So, the debate of starting him or not leans on how short-term you are thinking. Do you want the best team to win the next match? In that case, Ozil should be on the bench, maybe even in the starting XI. Or do you want the best foundation for the future? If so, Ozil should be nowhere near this team.