De Bruyne is better than I thought. He doesn't keep the ball or create quite as much as someone like Ozil but he's an attacking player with pace, power, vision and an eye for goal. Love the way he drills balls across the goal, dunno why players don't do it as often, easy assists

De Bruyne looks very good.

Admittedly I've only seen him about 3 times. Looks like a much better buy than Sterling anyway.

comment by Sheriff John Brown - bring back David Dein (U7482)
posted 8 minutes ago
Although I dont agree Zidane was like Cazorla or Xavi, Sheriff is right in saying he didn't play the same role as Ozil - at least at Real.
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I wasn't saying he played like Xavi or Cazorla. I was saying he has more in common with their style than Ozil.
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He probably has as little in common with all 3. This is a guy who could run at you like Yaya Toure does, but pass the ball like David Silva.

Not all attacking midfielders have the same role; Comparing the likes of Reus, Sanchez, and Hazard with Ozil is like me comparing Lewandowski with Ronaldo--yes both strikers, but they function quite differently in their teams, and one isn't nearly as a prolific of a scorer as the other. Zidane and Xavi didn't have the same role/play styles--Xavi was much more of a deep lying player alongside Iniesta and Busquets. And he wasn't a prolific scorer outside of free kicks, but he was one hell of a passer, playmaker, and dictator of the game, which is what I'd have Ozil turn into, someone who can dictate the flow of the game and creates chances for the team to convert.
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Ozil a "dictator" of the flow of games? Really?

I can compare Reus or Hazard with Ozil. They're creative players, but they are less limited and a lot more dynamic than Ozil. Same with a player like James Rodriguez in Madrid. For a team lacking goals like we do (that 5-2 last weekend is far from the norm), watching Ozil hesitate on clear openings or pick a pass when the shot is on, you wish you had players on the pitch who aren't afraid of responsibility.

Ozil doesn't dictate the pace of the game though, agree with Sheriff's post that he is more of a 'floater' and those players alwys more suited to La Liga/Seria A. Silva/Zidane never lose the ball but Ozil loses it way too much to be able to boss a game.

comment by Sheriff John Brown - bring back David Dein (U7482)
posted 8 minutes ago
Not all attacking midfielders have the same role; Comparing the likes of Reus, Sanchez, and Hazard with Ozil is like me comparing Lewandowski with Ronaldo--yes both strikers, but they function quite differently in their teams, and one isn't nearly as a prolific of a scorer as the other. Zidane and Xavi didn't have the same role/play styles--Xavi was much more of a deep lying player alongside Iniesta and Busquets. And he wasn't a prolific scorer outside of free kicks, but he was one hell of a passer, playmaker, and dictator of the game, which is what I'd have Ozil turn into, someone who can dictate the flow of the game and creates chances for the team to convert.
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Ozil a "dictator" of the flow of games? Really?

I can compare Reus or Hazard with Ozil. They're creative players, but they are less limited and a lot more dynamic than Ozil. Same with a player like James Rodriguez in Madrid. For a team lacking goals like we do (that 5-2 last weekend is far from the norm), watching Ozil hesitate on clear openings or pick a pass when the shot is on, you wish you had players on the pitch who aren't afraid of responsibility.


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Where did I say Ozil was a dictator of play? I said I would like him to become that type of player who dictates a game by controlling the flow of the game. I'm not going to argue anymore about the difference between Reus and Hazard and Ozil--I've given you one clear example with strikers yet you seem unwilling to see that just because players are in the same part of the pitch doesn't mean they'll have the same playing style.

Ozil being afraid of "responsibility" alright, if you say so. It's just as frustrating for me to see players not shoot. You make it seem as if he hasn't scored goals for Arsenal, which is very far from the truth. Again, I'd rather Ozil creating chances for our strikers to convert rather than putting himself to score from chances no one is making; except for Alexis (and maybe Ramsey and Walcott) this team doesn't score from nothing, the chance has to be created. We have more of a problem with players not creating chances and converting from them than we do from Ozil not scoring.

Where did I say Ozil was a dictator of play? I said I would like him to become that type of player who dictates a game by controlling the flow of the game. I'm not going to argue anymore about the difference between Reus and Hazard and Ozil--I've given you one clear example with strikers yet you seem unwilling to see that just because players are in the same part of the pitch doesn't mean they'll have the same playing style.
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You would "like him to become"? That means he isn't, so why are you comparing him to Zidane on that basis? You seem to argue just for the sake of it. And nobody has said there isn't a difference between Hazard, Reus and Ozil. The point is they're all attacking midfielders, but Ozil is more limited in what he offers the team than the all-round dynamism of Reus and Hazard.

Again, I'd rather Ozil creating chances for our strikers to convert rather than putting himself to score from chances no one is making; except for Alexis (and maybe Ramsey and Walcott) this team doesn't score from nothing, the chance has to be created. We have more of a problem with players not creating chances and converting from them than we do from Ozil not scoring.
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I don't even get your point here. You would rather Ozil create without scoring that create AND also score? Because that's what this is about. Contrary to your strawman argument, no one is saying they want Ozil to abandon creating to score every time. I'm saying he has to do far more than just leaving the responsibility of scoring to others. He can crate AND still score.

Fabregas gave us 19 goals and 20 assists in one season once. And 13 goals and 24 assists in another season (07/08). Mata had 20 goals and 30 assists in 2012/2013 and Lampard in Chelsea was insanely productive. Gerrard could give you 20+ goals and still assist tons.

You're somehow attempting to absolve Ozil of any goal scoring responsibility which is absurd. He's an attacking player.

"Would you Dubbed?"

I like De Bruyne. But he's playing in a better side with a coach who will utilise him better.
Bring Silva here behind the lampost Giiroud or our cramped midfield with zero movement and let us see how effective he'd be.

comment by Sheriff John Brown - bring back David Dein (U7482)
posted 11 minutes ago
Again, I'd rather Ozil creating chances for our strikers to convert rather than putting himself to score from chances no one is making; except for Alexis (and maybe Ramsey and Walcott) this team doesn't score from nothing, the chance has to be created. We have more of a problem with players not creating chances and converting from them than we do from Ozil not scoring.
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I don't even get your point here. You would rather Ozil create without scoring that create AND also score? Because that's what this is about. Contrary to your strawman argument, no one is saying they want Ozil to abandon creating to score every time. I'm saying he has to do far more than just leaving the responsibility of scoring to others. He can crate AND still score.

Fabregas gave us 19 goals and 20 assists in one season once. And 13 goals and 24 assists in another season (07/08). Mata had 20 goals and 30 assists in 2012/2013 and Lampard in Chelsea was insanely productive. Gerrard could give you 20+ goals and still assist tons.

You're somehow attempting to absolve Ozil of any goal scoring responsibility which is absurd. He's an attacking player.
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How many goals have Xavi, Iniesta, Modric, Kroos, Alonso, Gundogan, Pogba, Pirlo, Verrati, Vidal, Thiago, Schweinsteiger, Di Maria, Lavezzi, and other top midfielders put in? You sound like my friend who makes daft comments about a player being better than another just because they have inflated goals/assist stats without taking into consideration what role, the team, the playing style, and other factors, and the fact that goals/assists aren't the only components of football. There is no strawman argument--I never argued that people don't want him to create chances. You are pulling out the "he doesn't score enough" stick to beat him with--guess what, he has never been a goal scorer, so why are you surprised that a player who started and won more for a bigger club and for the top footballing nation isn't banging in goals? He has never done that while to contributing enough to warrant a starting place for Real and Germany. Somehow he needs to be a goal scorer because he has stepped down to a lower club and playing with less talented teammates.

sigh a bashing Ozil thread.

De Bruyne's a final ball merchant. Finisher or assisting. Yet if the final ball isn't there he struggles. He struggle to retain possession, as shown last week.

Ozil bashing aside, it's worth noting Mourinho got rid of Mata and De Bruyne, yet keep Oscar.

GHGooner is actually spot on for once.

Ozil just needs to be more consistent and perform in big games (starting tomorrow would be nice), he's already created the most chances in the league so if he can start to score then that's a bonus.

How many goals have Xavi, Iniesta, Modric, Kroos, Alonso, Gundogan, Pogba, Pirlo, Verrati, Vidal, Thiago, Schweinsteiger, Di Maria, Lavezzi, and other top midfielders put in?
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looool.....majority of those are CMs. Why the fack do you keep raising stupid distortions? Why not just admit that perhaps, goalscoring is an area of the game that Ozil can significantly improve rather than long apologist drivel?

You are pulling out the "he doesn't score enough" stick to beat him with--guess what, he has never been a goal scorer, so why are you surprised that a player who started and won more for a bigger club and for the top footballing nation isn't banging in goals?
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What a stupid argument. I can't critique a weak area of his game because it was never a strength of his? Did I ever argue that he was once a great scorer? Did I say I'm surprised? I said it's an area I wish we could improve on in midfield - more scorers, including a no.10 who doesn't score enough.

What he accomplished in a bigger club is irrelevant. He could hide behind the bigger responsibility of the likes of Ronaldo in Madrid. He is bigger fish at Arsenal, being our most expensive import, which means he has to bear more responsibility to influence and decide games.

comment by DubbedTheNewWenger90 (U19529)
posted 36 minutes ago
GHGooner is actually spot on for once.
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I'm not always on the WUM or trying slate Flamini

What Arsenal fans who robustly defend Ozil at every opportunity fail to realise is that no one thinks Ozil is a poor player; he is mega-talented; heck, i was a tad envious when Arsenal signed him as i wanted him to replace the garbage i.e Rooney. I was bashing Rooney seasons before many cottoned onto the fact that he was holding United back and now is in terminal decline.

The fact is, Ozil, like ADM are just not cut out for the thrust of the PL. United realised it with ADM and cut our losses; Arsenal should have done the same with Ozil!

Ir's actually 4 goals, and he's fkin amazing

Jeez like I've said many time De Bruyne like Silva has a Striker called Aguero to bang in the goals. We have freaking Giroud ffs. Swap the 2 and watch he difference. Would Giroud have scored 5 goals yesterday for with the chances Aguero got???

De Bruyne is excellent for Belgium and their strikers have often struggled. He was about the best performer in the Bundesliga, and Wolfsburg had no Aguero. Diego Costa and every other striker struggle for Spain, but Silva has been their best player for a long time now operating from the right wing. We have to quit using the Giroud excuse for Ozil.

Why is it that any opposition player in a decent run of form becomes a stick with which to beat our own?

"Why is it that any opposition player in a decent run of form becomes a stick with which to beat our own?"

You're gonna have to ask the likes of Sheriff and Castor that.

Timely article!