Man U have 36 penalties since Ole took over. In that same time we've been given 9.

I get that Man U have fast players who dribble in to the box more but when I watch their games and our games there is never a debatable penalty that isn't given for them, they get everything. We never get a debatable one and have plenty of really good shouts not even looked at by VAR.

Just this season Saka was clearly bundled over in the box v Leicester in the cup, Milner must have handballed it about 3 times in the league cup match v Liverpool and a City player nearly took Gabriel's head off in the last game

Someone has done the stats of touches in the box per penalty given, which gives a fairer reflection as those teams who get in the box more will get more penalties.

Man U lead with 68 touches in the box per penalty. Arsenal are last with 849 touches in the box per penalty

Ah Mesut has just released another statement dribbling with self pity

Looks at watch and waits for the debate that he should be in the team again

If Özil's sole aim in all of this is to just play football then he should have moved on when he was clearly told he wouldn't be used this season. I don't blame him for staying and seeing out a hefty contract that the club gave to him, but if it is only about playing football then he could have moved, there were offers on the table. None of the top 50 clubs in Europe would sign him on even 1/4 of his current salary

The comments about fighting inhumanity and justice made me laugh. Erdogan was his best man at his wedding.

Sooner the bloke *%^@* off the better. Disastrous signing

If Özil goes this season without playing, I wonder what clubs will pick him up. I wonder what will be the best offer. Best in terms of the level of club not wages. Any top club will worry about his attitude. Will a RM, Juve, PSG, BM, City or Liverpool be interested?

My guess and its only a guess obviously, given his age, the acrimony, etc, he will be blamed for part of it. My guess is that it will be a club just below the top clubs. Milan, Roma, Sevilla, Atletico may be considered a top club at this point, Tottenham, Everton would take a chance I think. Ajax, Leipzig, Dortmund.

Indeed. One would imagine that Arteta told him some time ago that he wasn't part of his plans. So he's had plenty of time to find a new club or consider any offers that came in for him, if there were any. Of course if there were it's doubtful any club was offering him £350k a week, so if he's turned offers down to sit tight and continue picking up his money that is his prerogative. But don't go on social media whingeing about loyalty if you make that choice. Arsenal are still paying you Mesut.

When he first arrived, Özil’s play was a thing of beauty. I remember his first game away at Sunderland when he laid on a goal for Giroud with an inch-perfect and sublimely weighted pass. For the next few years, we all basked in the reflected glory of having a truly world class player in our team. He’s better than Zidane! It all seemed to change after the 2018 World Cup when he turned on the German international team set-up and his country – and they turned right back on him! I don’t know if that was when he signed the mega-bucks contract but his performances have waned significantly from that time onwards. For me he’s been a waste of space for the last 18 months.

When they played for Pep, both TH14 and Fabregas fell out of favour because they were used to a roving role with us and largely pleased themselves where they played. That’s not the Guardiola way; all his players are given very specific responsibilities. For example, TH was instructed – ordered – to hug the touchline even though that was never his game when he starred for us. When he consistently drifted around, as he’d always done, he was dropped. Similarly, Fabregas was required to play a very specific role in the Barca mf to mesh with Iniesta and Xavi. He stuck if for 3 years but he’d had enough at the end and demanded a move.

MA has taken a lot from Pep. We can all see that our players now have a much clearer idea of their roles – and I think we’d all agree that we look so much better for it. Like everyone else, Özil would have been given his instructions but given the evidence of his displays under MA, does anyone believe he stuck to them? I don’t recall a single convincing performance under MA. So he was regularly hooked, taking several minutes to inch his way off, bottom lip dragging; alternatively, he was just dropped. Remember the regular ‘sickness’ excuse, particularly for away games?

I also heard that in the aftermath of that debacle of a match vs Brighton, when MA (in my view, quite rightly) launched into Guendouzi, Özil who hadn’t even been on the bench, staunchly but somewhat irrationally defended Guendouzi. This deepened even further the rift between himself and MA. There was no coming back after that. I’m not sure if that was the intention of the episode but I wouldn’t bet against it. Whatever his motive, you reap what you sow, Mesut and today’s mewling self-serving pronouncements on loyalty and injustice all ring pretty hollow to me.

Some proper vomit stuff on twitter with wrighty and lineker bemoaning poor Özil being held by evil Arsenal againest his will. Totally ignoring his 350k a week wage and the fact Arsenal would let him go without a transfer fee at any point.

Apparently Mustafi has travelled with the squad to Vienna. Considering all the other injuries we have at CB he'll be needed
Chambers, Mari, Holding all injured. Saliba and Sokratis not registered. Luiz, Gabriel fit. Kolasinac and Tierney can play in a 3

Arteta obviously knows what he's doing. He has a system and players must play within it. I find it hard a player of Özil's quality arbitrarily left out of the squad. Arteta's system is not just about skill but also belief and having players with the right attitude.

For what ever reason Özil can't or won't abide by that system in some form or fashion and although I don't know the whole story, none of us do right now, I'm inclined to trust Arteta's judgement. I have no choice right now.

Hi Goonie

Partey is a Christian isn't he? Pretty sure Aubameyang is as well. I know Xhaka, Kolasinec and Mustafi are Muslim but I'm not sure about our young Londoners.

One thing for sure if the train comes off the rails this season then it won't be Özil's fault. The one master footballer we have in our generally middling squad - I wish him well wherever he goes.

Oh I don't know Old Man. If he'd played better, he'd be in the team and if he played the way he did a few years ago, he would improve us.

But he didn't, he isn't so he can't. There's a sadness in that but it's down to one man.

Correct. Arsenal have been trying to get rid of him for a while and were willing to take a big hit to do so. I dare say even a loan with Arsenal paying 50% of his wages would have been seen as a win for the club.
Arteta is quite within his rights to not pick a player, he doesn't need to give reasons, but it isn't exactly a shock to anyone who has watched Arsenal with Özil in the team that he contributes very little when we don't have the ball. I'm certain if Özil found a way to play to the level expected by Arteta he would be in the squad. Perhaps I'm being naive over the off field items but I certainly don't buy the 'poor me' posts

I don't understand why 'loyalty' is bought in to it by Özil. Yes he could argue he showed loyalty to Arsenal when he committed to his new deal (although I didn't see clubs lining up to purchase him as he was only 6 or 12 months away from being a free agent) But just because you think you showed loyalty in committing to a club doesn't mean the club needs to repay that loyalty in kind by picking you in the team. The club gave Özil the contract on the same premise as every other player, you attend training, work hard and listen to your managers instructions and tactics - then it is down to the manager whether he picks you. It is very simple.

Holding out for 3 weeks. Willian and Ceballos out for the Vienna game

Football can be laughingly fickle. If you improve the team and help get results you are pretty much guaranteed to play regardless of non footballing issues. Similarly to be dropped from a 20+ Member squad in a team that is struggling to create chances, you know that you don’t fit the way the manager wants to play. Perhaps some would argue Arteta really should develop a style that utilises Özil’s talents. But the fact that Mikel has chosen not to, clearly says he believes success is more likely without him. It’s a shame and a waste of money but unfortunately Özil doesn’t seem suited to top flight football anymore. The fact that no clubs seemed interested in loaning him speaks volumes.

Exactly.

Özil certainly hasn't shown enough in the last few years to justify building a team around him. So he either slots into a role or he is surplus.

Saka is a Christian, along with most of the Brazilians, he cited Luiz’s influence there when he signed and before. It’s par for the course that particular demographics latch onto players that match whatever they endorse, and that’s fair enough but I can’t say I’m a fan of it. Especially when you start talking about cashing in on it.

Özil could be a Scientologist for all it matters, Arteta would have dropped him anyway.

Read the latest arseblog transcript, no doubt Arteta is a man of integrity

At work you tell people not to discuss politics and religion. Good solid advice for other venues as well.

The Özil decision is Artetas to make but he must rise or fall on it. He is getting his way 100%, something Emery was denied. But if Willian is not a success, Luiz does stupid things, Partey is not a success, he fails to get Saliba playing, Pépé does not produce (he picks him) then he alone is responsible. Overall if we fail to improve significantly, getting better (much better) this season and must be top 4 by the end of next season then the die is cast. I could go on with Mari, Soares etc. But he could leave a real mess behind. The Willian 3 year contract , was it 4yrs for Soares.

Personally, I am unconvinced at this time.

Er, read much of the forum lately?

I think the point everyone else is hinting at is that they don’t care

Exactly

What about Elneny, or does he not count because he’s (to borrow a phrase) ‘not much cop’? He’s Egyptian and Egypt’s population is, I believe, about 90% Muslim.

Hey omoh, I hear ya. You know what? We can win with Özil in the squad not tracking back or playing his designated role. We have won before with him doing what he likes. I don't think we would win as much, especially against highly skillful and organized squads like City, Liverpool or even Tottenham.

That said, one of the biggest issues with Arsenal sides the past several years was belief. There are intangibles that we seem to lack with spirit, etc. I think Özil being the exception openly doing as he likes hurts us in that regard. The players out there now try to play Arteta's system. Presumably they have bought into it if reports from players are any evidence. Presumably one of the reasons Aubameyang signed a new contract.

Admittedly, its tough to see someone of Özil's quality. Definitely the most skillful midfield player by some distance being left out. But if he's not going to play Arteta's way or not give 100 percent in training, etc., then we are better off trusting Arteta as to why.

It was the extension of the contract which was the problem. The blame lies 100% with Wenger. He was trying to save his job and as Alexi was not staying he wanted Özil to stay otherwise it would look like the players had lost confidence in him. Did you support Özil in staying and were you in the Wenger camp at that time?

The only use for Özil I can see is in games where we are totally dominating, opposition literally camped in their own box, potentially even a man down. That rarely happens for us. Nearly every team in the league has a decent enough plan to defend well and counter attack - a lot go even further than those basic tactics and actually press high, man mark all over the pitch, squeeze the lines and keep the ball. Obviously Arteta doesn't think Özil fits the bill for any of those games (which is most of them!) as he offers nothing without the ball. Also the reality is he was offering very little with the ball for the last year or so, assists had dried up and he was getting maybe 2 goals a season for someone in an attacking role, it was pathetic. For all the media taking a swipe at Arsenal for not putting him in the squad I don't see a single club (other than Saudi Arabian leagues) ready to take Özil on. The game has moved on from traditional 'lazy genius' No. 10's. I would much rather invest time in to someone like Smith-Rowe

I completely get that Özil will not comply with Arteta's system. Keeping out totally seems punitive. We are in 4 competitions and it makes no sense that he is not involved in early rounds of the league or FA cups where we have fixture congestions.

I tend to believe the story that the team is not trying to pay him appearance and performance fees.

Yes and I am glad you mention it. To use a Wengerism, overall, he brought loads of money into the club through sponsorships and sales. On the pitch he was also one of the few reasons to watch The Arsenal. The most imaginative player we had for years.

Hi AG - it is often said that Özil will not play as the manager asks him to, or has given less than 100% in training, but is that a fact? Only those close to the action will know. May be worth reflecting that before he came to Arsenal Özil had reached the pinnacle of football - Germany and Real Madrid - and there was no sense of him being lazy or a disruptive egotist in those teams. Although Arsenal was a step, or more accurately a staircase down in quality to what he had been used to, he didn't come here just for the ride. His contributions to the team were evidently not those of a soloist. Also his commercial importance was huge, which now seems to be conveniently forgotten by his critics. Something has gone wrong under recent managers and it can't simply all be his fault.

Going back to our lack of creativity at the moment and I don't think this is strictly a midfield issue. Look at how Liverpool play, not very much creativity from their midfield, they use their full backs and a multi-faceted front 3. City as well quite often play with 2 holding or less creative midfielders (Rodri, Fernandinho, Gundogan). Spurs, Man U and Chelsea also don't get much creativity from the pair of midfielders they pick. I wouldn't have though any combination of Xhaka/Ceballos/Partey to be much more or less creative than those other sides.

However what those other sides all have are forward players with natural creative tendencies as well as goalscoring ones. Salah, Mané, Kane, Son, Pulisic, Havertz, Werner, Rashford, Martial, Sterling, Foden, Mahrez, Ageuro. Each of those forwards are just as likely to stick the ball in the net as they are beat a man with skill or pace and play an incisive through ball or cross.

Aubameyang is a finisher, and a very good one, but he isn't a creator as well like Henry was.
Lacazette is a more traditional CF, a hold up man and getting in the 6 yard box, he isn't like Kane or Firminho in the creative stakes.
Nketiah is an old school fox in the box
Pépé/Willian - their numbers are just nowhere near the likes of Sterling, Pulisic, Rashford for the wide forward role.
I have hope for Martinelli who has the profile to fit this modern forward but he's still so young.

I think if we had a forward line made of more of these multi functional forwards we'd solve a lot of our creativity issues. I think this is the area of the team that Arteta needs to target improvement in.

I'd like to see a back 4 with Xhaka/Partey in front. Willian as a No.10 and a front 3 of Martinelli/Aubameyang/Pépé

Özil is quoted as saying that commercial decisions are at the heart of it stemming from his defence of Muslims in China. Sad to say that is more believable than the player not having the qualities to play the game.

For what it's worth, I think the club acted disgracefully in that instance - distancing yourself from a player because he speaks out about religious persecution is just cowardly, no matter what the PR implications might be. But with regards to the current situation, Özil played nearly every game under Arteta until the covid break. Why is the China thing suddenly such a problem now? It doesn't really add up in my opinion.

Could that be because he's contributed little so far? And he's not even able to perform at the level of a 19 year old on the other wing?

Pépé might do something, he might contribute something, he might become something, but so far he's been bloody average so I don't understand why you're so defensive.

What makes you so sure its because of that? I wouldn't put him in the squad either because he's total poison to the work ethic that Arteta is trying to create. The a****** gets paid enough to retire on in a few months and can't be arsed to turn up at training or play hard for 90 minutes. If he was such a martyr he'd quit and join a *%^@*** charity so he can do good in the world. He certainly shouldnt need the money anymore. This is not about Arsenal doing wrong by him, it's obvious that he has a grudge with someone at the club like Kroenke and is making a political protest against them. *%^@ him and his champagne socialist b%*&s%*^.

He's been playing the "poor minority" string for years if you recall his departure from the German squad. Meanwhile he gets cosy with Erdogan who is rightly accussed of war crimes and ethnic cleansing. I find it incredible that Özil is being defended.

That's not quite true though is it. Özil himself is quoted as reminiscing about Mourinho giving him a bollocking for "floating around like a butterfly". Real knew what they had on their hands and sold him at what should have been his absolute peak. That in itself tells a story. Wenger, being the Mother hen that he is, setup the epilogue.