Arsenal: We’ve got Mesut Ozil, I don’t think I understand

Mesut Ozil is back, and I’m confused. I thought he’d left Arsenal after three years of ineffectiveness. Someone help me understand.

It wasn’t all that long ago that I was praising Unai Emery for doing the right thing with Mesut Ozil and his Arsenal dilemma. Back then “the right thing” was sitting him because he wasn’t good enough. And for years, he hadn’t been good enough.

Against Manchester United, Mesut Ozil made it three matches in a row that he was, not necessarily a gangbuster, but reliable. He was consistent. I don’t know if I’ve ever used that word to describe the man.

True to form, before the match Mikel Arteta drew attention to how the team had to provide the right structure in order to get the most out of Ozil. He pointed out how important it was to do so, as Ozil could be essentially the centerpiece.

I questioned it before the match. As I am liable to do when it comes to using Ozil more than usual. But now I’m over here singing the Mesut Ozil song wondering if I actually do understand.

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The thing is, Arteta’s only been here a couple weeks and he hasn’t changed the personnel at all. All of these changes are coming through his tactical decisions. These are the same players that Unai Emery struggled to get the most out of. Same with Freddie Ljungberg. Yet Arteta has done it instantaneously.

Just like that, Ozil is a new man. And it’s not even the creating chances. Honestly, he’s not doing all that much of it. But the work rate is unlike anything I’ve seen from him. He tracked all over the place and engineered a lot of counter attacking moves.

Best of all? he played 90 minutes.

It was a day of so many things I never thought I’d see from Ozil in an Arsenal shirt ever again. Three in a row. Reliability. Effort. Defensive work rate. 90 minutes. It’s like he’s a brand new player. And again, that’s where I have to say I don’t think I understand (not just because it’s the lyrics of the song).

What I don’t understand is if this really is the new Ozil, or if a relapse is coming.

All things considered, right now we don’t have to worry about that. We just have to keep enjoying all the hard work he’s putting in. More of it, please.