A summer transfer window in which Arsenals key weaknesses were once again ignored has been followed swiftly by an underwhelming start to the new season, with Arsene Wenger preoccupied with a now routine defence of the form and attitude of club-record signing Mesut Ozil, urging fans not to turn the World Cup winner into a scapegoat for the Gunnerss shortcomings. However, after a virtuoso performance against Aston Villa upon his return to his favoured No.10 role – having previously spent several months, beginning under Joachim Low with Germany, lining up in the relative wilderness of the left wing – it has become increasingly clear that Ozil is not the problem. Rather, the former Real Madrid playmaker is a victim of a system overloaded and bloated by the presence of so many No.10s, all vying for the same space, all making the same runs. Ozil was granted a brief respite at Villa Park – with Jack Wilshere and Alexis Sanchez both left on the bench, the 25-year-old was given a freer role behind lone frontman Danny Welbeck – but is expected to return to the left when Tottenham visit on Saturday.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 09:39:16 +0000
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