Santi wrote:I’m just gonna pick up on the ‘doing what arteta wants’ bit, as the rest is fair enough and I largely agree. Although I wasn’t suggesting you have an agenda (a few people definitely do) but I do think it’s a very easy bandwagon to jump on without being fully fair to the player as well.
So as for doing what Arteta wants - do you really think he isn’t? This is the point for me because he seemed to be doing enough of what Arteta wanted pre-lockdown, whilst he wasn’t perfect or even close to it, he was playing about 10 games in a row. So, whilst it’s common to slate his running and defensive abilities, he must’ve been doing enough right to play all those games no? Or do you think Arteta just played him because they were mates before?
It’s only post lockdown that he’s been exiled fully, even worse than under emery. This is why I think it’s down to whatever happened over the wage issue, we’ve seen Arteta take the hard line with Guendouzi when he didn’t play ball and whilst they haven’t confirmed it, it seems the same with Ozil since lockdown.
Now if that’s the reason then it’s fair enough, consistency in his approach and showing no player is above the team or the club. This appears to be the most likely explanation and why it annoys me when people say it’s for footballing reasons (he’s certainly dropped off) because there was no footballing issue 9 months ago and he wasn’t any better then. I think the club just need to make a statement if they want to end the circus because until the reason is put out in the open, there will always be questions. I’d like to put it behind us as much as anyone because it’s just shit for everyone involved, club, Ozil and fans.
Tbf I can’t wait for Özil to write an autobiography on his time at here ,Would be a good read