SANCHEZ ‘NOT THE QUICK FIX’
ARSENE WENGER launched a bizarre defence of Mesut Ozil after he was savaged for his display at Stoke.
Midfield legend Steven Gerrard branded the German a “liability” in his analysis of the Gunners’ 1-0 defeat on BT Sport, with former Arsenal defender Martin Keown telling him to “have a good look at himself”.
But Wenger raised eyebrows when he praised the midfielder (above) for showing “fight” despite a lacklustre performance where he failed to get to grips with the pace and physicality of the match.
He said: “I cannot comment on the commentators, you know. They say what they say. I believe that he did fight like everybody else and he’s very disappointed after the game.”
Ozil’s future at Arsenal is in doubt with his contract up at the end of the season and Keown believes the uncertainty affected his display.
Keown said: “Arsenal can’t afford to carry someone like Ozil. He wants to have a good look at himself. He’s not kidding us watching the game.
“It looked like he was going through the motions. Only he really knows if he’s giving everything and I don’t believe that he really is.”
Gerrard (above) said: “We’ve all seen Ozil on his day and he’s a worldclass talent in possession, although he was poor in that respect today. “I just worry about his body language and his reaction when the ball is turned over. He offers his team-mates nothing defensively and away from home he’s a liability.” ARSENE WENGER has warned that Alexis Sanchez will not instantly solve Arsenal’s goalscoring problems.
The Chile striker is due to return from his abdominal injury against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
Wenger said: “He’s not played now for six weeks. It’s difficult to be at your best in the first game straight away.
“We will prepare him well. He was out with a muscular strain and hopefully he will survive the tests first before he comes back.”