WENGER: OZIL IS AWORLD BEATER
ARSENE WENGER claims those hailing Arsenal as better without Mesut Ozil are jumping too quickly to conclusions, but his selection at Watford today will offer a more telling indicator of his plans.
Ozil is fit after injury, fresh and available while others are weary from long-haul travel and World Cup disappointment.
Without him in the team, Arsenal have won five of the last six and drawn at Chelsea. They have not conceded in the league since the 4-0 thrashing at Liverpool.
‘People go quickly to conclusions,’ said Wenger. ‘We live in the world where people have opinions and sometimes they are right and sometimes they are not always proven right on the longer period.
‘ You need players who have quality and Ozil is one of the best players in the world. Last season we played the last 11 games and won 10. We beat Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final and Chelsea in the final and he played as well.’
Ozil’s minor knee problem ruled him out for Germany but he has trained fully with Arsenal and yet is not certain to start at Watford.
‘He is only one week back in training and he has worked hard,’ said Wenger. ‘Of course, he is important but I have many players.’
Ozil, 29 tomorrow, will be out of contract at the end of the season. Talks stalled months ago and he can negotiate and sign a pre-contract deal for a move to a foreign club in January.
‘I cannot tell you what is really on his mind,’ said the manager. ‘I think he wants to stay.’
Yet Wenger proved in the past with Andrey Arshavin and Mathieu Flamini he is prepared to leave out players he thinks are determined to leave. If he leaves Ozil out at Watford, the writing is on the wall. (So will you pick him today, Arsene?)