Mesut Ozil’s Arsenal Departure for the Good of All

Mesut Ozil is leaving Arsenal for Fenerbahce.

As soon as Mesut Ozil gracefully side-footed Aaron Ramsey‘s ball to the edge of the box beyond Pepe Reina, he arrived at Arsenal. Elegance was evident in his play during the four previous fixtures, but not quite like this.

After a toxic spell of selling all the club’s best players, decisions that hamstrung Premier League and European form contributing towards a nine-year wait for silverware, the stunning deadline day arrival of Ozil to Arsenal sparked ecstasy across the world.

Arsenal, who had let their own stars leave in search of pastures new, had just acquired the best of all.

£42.5m was price it took to begin a new era in the club’s history. Seeing the German hold that shirt aloft for the first time was worth more than his weight in gold. Parties in the streets outside the Emirates were matched by similarly animated celebrations, tinged with pure shock, from those watching on from home.

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Seven and a half years on, three FA Cup trophies later, and it’s come to this. Why has it come to this? How has it come to this?

Equally, what a relief that it’s finally coming to an end.

A player defined by his sophistication on the pitch has been embroiled in a mess off it, one that has been in the works for longer than Mikel Arteta‘s tenure, but has reached boiling point during it. His gradual drift away from the first team meandered its way towards this outcome.

World class talent, once the pinnacle of footballing wizardry, consigned to a spot on the bench, before eventually no role at all.

The debate over who failed whom, where mistakes were made, what decisions were shrouded in controversy, or whether this end was always inevitable will rumble on long after Ozil departs the club.

All that can be said with total agreement is that now, in this moment, it suits everyone.