Simply as Arsenal supporters needed to take pleasure in being high of the desk all through the worldwide break, but extra dangerous information on the harm entrance comes their means.
On Saturday towards West Ham, Martin Ødegaard set an undesirable report, turning into the primary participant in Premier League historical past to be substituted in the course of the first half of three successive league begins.
Having seemingly recovered from a shoulder situation, placing in a glowing show towards Olympiacos within the Champions League, the captain suffered a medial collateral ligament harm to his left knee, anticipated to spend at the very least a month on the sidelines.
Between this worldwide break and the November window, Mikel Arteta’s workforce tackle Fulham, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Sunderland within the Premier League, additionally going through Atlético Madrid and Slavia Prague within the Champions League, in addition to Brighton in an EFL Cup tie.
In most of these fixtures, particularly when Diego Simeone’s Colchoneros go to North London, the Gunners will face their kryptonite, a low block, so Arteta merely should fill the inventive void in Ødegaard’s absence with Arsenal’s new Mesut Özil.
Mesut Özil’s influence at Arsenal
In a post-Fabrizio Romano period, it’s laborious to stipulate the joy that Özil’s transfer to Arsenal introduced, with this the height of Sky Sports activities Information deadline day, because the clip under demonstrates.
As soon as he arrived, the German had an unlimited influence in North London, offering numerous numbers of assists and scoring objectives regularly too.
Mesut Özil Arsenal statistics | ||
|---|---|---|
Season | Targets | Assists |
2013/14 | 7 | 14 |
2014/15 | 5 | 8 |
2015/16 | 8 | 20 |
2016/17 | 12 | 15 |
2017/18 | 5 | 14 |
2018/19 | 6 | 3 |
2019/20 | 1 | 3 |
Whole | 44 | 77 |
Stats through Transfermarkt | ||
Özil was at his best possible in 2015/16 and 2016/17, along with his tally of 19 Premier League assists within the former marketing campaign solely ever bettered by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
The German will endlessly be remembered as Arsenal’s help king, a key determine in a trio of FA Cup triumphs, very a lot among the finest gamers the membership have had within the Emirates period.
Who can neglect that purpose towards Ludogorets within the Champions League? Or his trademark end towards Liverpool, bouncing the ball onto the turf and previous a bewildered goalkeeper.
Whereas the German’s work fee and physique language have been questioned in the direction of the tip of his profession, few can dispute simply how magical he was on his day.
So now, fast-forward to right this moment, might one in all Arsenal’s summer season signings have an identical influence if unleashed by Arteta?
Arsenal’s new inventive star
Following Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat at Anfield in August, Arteta was extensively criticised for deploying Martín Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino, misconstrued as him deploying three defensive midfielders, which is not strictly true, however they do lack creativity.
Extra lately although, Eberechi Eze was deployed centrally at Newcastle, earlier than beginning in tandem alongside Ødegaard on the weekend, albeit that experiment sadly did not final too lengthy.
So now, with Ødegaard set to spend an prolonged interval on the sidelines, Eze must be given the important thing to this workforce, deployed by way of the center given the Gunners’ upcoming opponents, as he is the one man who can remedy their creativity situation.
Following the dramatic victory at St James’ Park, Arteta admitted that the England worldwide is at his finest when utilised centrally, stating “the extra we put him in central positions, particularly when there’s risk round him, we’re taking part in to his strengths”.
Meantime, upon his arrival, having hijacked Tottenham’s transfer, sporting director Andrea Berta labelled Eze a “inventive and explosive expertise with enormous technical high quality”, whereas Arteta famous that he’ll deliver a “new dimension” to his workforce, given that he’s a “highly effective and thrilling participant”.
The 27-year-old has solely made eight appearances for his new membership however has showcased his high quality already, scoring his first purpose towards Port Vale within the Carabao Cup, whereas additionally producing this elegant help in stoppage time as Gabriel Martinelli rescued a draw towards Manchester Metropolis.
Thus, as already outlined, Arsenal’s subsequent seven matches are, predominantly, towards groups who will sit deep and problem the Gunners to interrupt them down, so these in attendance must be ready to endure loads of horseshoe of doom when membership soccer returns.
Thus, giving Eze the liberty to roam and create by way of the center may very well be key to combating this, particularly contemplating each left-winger choices, Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, have been scoring objectives of late.
Eze’s arrival was, presumably, the signing Arsenal supporters have been most enthusiastic about since Özil joined again in 2013 so, in a a lot better workforce than the German ever was, he may very well be the participant that leads Arsenal to that elusive Premier League title.
