From the day he arrived at Arsenal, Mesut Ozil has been at the centre of public attention with every move being closely monitored, analysed and commented on.
Mesut Ozil is one of few high-profile and already renowned world-class players that Wenger has brought into his squad over the past three years.
Soon after his arrival, the question was raised whether he will bring much-needed trophies to the Emirates Stadium.
Life at Arsenal so far
The German attacking midfielder immediately set out to do what he does best – consistently creating chances for his team and bagging a few goals along the way.
Ozil had a decent first season at Arsenal as he dazzled and lived up to the massive expectations associated with his high profile arrival at that time.
His second season at the club remained in the shade of winning the World Cup title with the German national team the summer before and was later spoiled by a knee injury, which took him off the field for more than two months.
However, in the following season, Ozil made amends for his poor performances in spectacular fashion as he excelled for most of the 2015/16 season.
At the end of the season, the club finished as runners-up behind Leicester City, but the player won Arsenal’s Player of the Season award with his superb statistics. Ozil’s percentage of successful passes totalled 86.7% while he also scored six goals and made 19 assists; 19 being more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues.
What can we expect this season?
Ozil’s style of play, perception and vision of the game, technique, and ability from dead-ball situations are just some of the reasons why this 28-year-old is a real fan favourite.
Wenger often compares him with Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp, claiming they are two most complete players he ever coached. They also resemble a lot in character, he adds – they are leaders in the field and influence other players with their calmness and authority.
The period of adaptation to the league and the style of play in England is far behind Ozil, and he now knows what he can expect from Arsenal’s opponents.
Ozil is currently at his peak as far as his football career is concerned. He’s got unwavering motivation and the desire to show all his qualities on the pitch. His influence on the pitch for Arsenal can’t be overestimated as he will play a crucial role in what could be Arsenal’s title winning season; that is of course if they play their cards right.
The Gunners are facing the all too familiar problem of failing to improve their squad in a transfer window, meaning the title yet again looks out of reach for this season.
Ozil’s assists will surely help Arsenal to secure some points next season, but the fact remains that he can’t do it all alone. He’s going to need the players around him to be at their best in a bid for him to show off his tremendous qualities.
If you’re an Arsenal fan, there is no reason to believe that this season will be any more successful than the last, especially when considering how much rival sides look to have improved.
While Ozil has arguably been a success for Arsenal since arriving at the Emirates, the lack of spending on other big name players who could have experienced similar form for the Gunners means he and his club are likely to be left without a Premier League title once again.