Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has today provided a brief update on his future, amid the German’s struggles for form.
Ozil the enigma
Ozil, who splits opinion among fans and pundits alike due to his languid style on the pitch, has been plying his trade at the Emirates stadium since 2013, when he made the move from Real Madrid for 50 million Euro.
After playing a key role over his early seasons in north London, though, the last couple of years have seen the German struggle.
A combination of poor form, fitness struggles and what all has all too frequently appeared to be a basic lack of effort, saw Ozil slip majorly down Arsenal’s midfield pecking order on the back of Unai Emery’s appointment last summer.
Last season saw the 31-year-old manage starts in just 20 of Arsenal’s Premier League outings.
The early months of the new campaign, meanwhile, proved even more of a struggle for Ozil.
Across the Gunners’ opening 8 league fixtures, the gifted midfield creator notched just a solitary start.
WATFORD, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 15: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal arrives prior to the Premier League match between Watford FC and Arsenal FC at Vicarage Road on September 15, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
And though Ozil’s game-time has since picked up following Emery’s dismissal and Mikel Arteta’s subsequent appointment in December, his lack of production has now emerged as another major source of concern.
While the veteran’s cutting edge often previously covered up for his deficiencies elsewhere, he is now struggling to make any sort of meaningful impact in the final 3rd.
Incredibly, across 15 Premier League starts this season, Ozil has directly contributed to just 1 goal.
‘Will give everything for this club’
As such, as Mikel Arteta attempts to guide Arsenal forward into a new era, question marks have inevitably begun to surface surrounding Ozil’s place in the Gunners’ squad.
Many feel as though the time has come for the capital outfit to cut their losses and part ways with the club’s no. 10 this summer.
As a result, during an interview earlier today, Ozil was drawn on his future at the Emirates, and plans moving forward.
Speaking to The National, though, the former Werder Bremen man suggested that he intends to remain at Arsenal for at least another season, ahead of the expiration of his contract in the summer of 2021:
‘After this season I have one more year, so after that I will know because I can’t see the future.’
Ozil continued:
‘The thing I can do is give everything for the team, for myself, to be successful and let’s see what happens.’
‘What I know is that I will give everything for this club, for my teammates.’
Unai Emery aims dig at Arsenal and former players: ‘The club was on a downward slope for two years’
Arsenal the latest club tipped to move for Leicester’s James Maddison
