From all indications, there seem to be more problems at Arsenal than new manager, Unai Emery is telling Arsenal fans. For the first time in over 20 years, West Ham United have beaten Arsenal in the presence of nearly 60 thousand fans, the highest ever crowd at West Ham stadium. Surprisingly, Mesut Ozil who is fit to play was completely left out of Arsenal’s match-day squad.
Ozil has no injury concerns and did full week training with the team yet he was left out. It is true that Ozil’s work rate is questionable, but Arsenal needed the midfield creative prowess of Ozil to overturn West Ham. The midfielder trained with the club all week and appears to have made a full recovery from the knee injury, which kept him out of their last three matches. Unai Emery opted to name the same starting XI, which beat Fulham in their last Premier League outing despite Ozil being available. Ozil himself, the British media reported, posted a message on his social media accounts saying he had completed a full week of training on Friday, meaning that he was ready and fit to play.
The 30-year-old has not played since Boxing Day and has failed to establish a regular starting berth this season under Emery. Despite this, his agent came out this month and insisted Ozil is happy at the club amid speculation over his long-term future. Emery has given Ozil reassurances over his role at the club but still has reservations over the midfielder’s work-rate levels. The Spaniard cited ‘tactical reasons’ when he dropped him for their defeat at Southampton last month.
But with Aaron Ramsey set to leave, it just makes sense that Emery features Ozil more often in games instead of Ramsey especially since he is not bringing quality additions this January transfer window. It is indeed shameful that Arsenal will succumb to West Ham thus dropping points and making their chances of finishing top four on the edge. “Emery should come out and let the fans know what sort of problems there are at the Emirates…Ozil is not given the opportunity to play; Ramsey will be leaving for free at the end of the season, the club may not again qualify for Champion’s League football. So what is the reason for sacking Arsene Wenger,” a fan that spoke to Newsbitsng.com queried.”
