Newly-appointed Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes he can get the best out of midfielder Mesut Ozil. The German has gone through a frustrating season where he has made limited impact in the final third of the field and most often, he has found himself substituted or excluded from the matchday squad altogether.
Speaking in his first press conference, Arteta acknowledged that Ozil remains a massive player at the north London side and he will hold a personal meeting with the German to understand his concerns. He added that he wants to have an impact on and off the playing field and it’s his duty to get the best out of the former Germany international.
He told: “He’s a massive player for this football club. As I said before, what I want is to understand how they are feeling and what they need. It’s not so much about what I need. You have to understand them. Sometimes with conversation, you get to understand a point. When you understand them, I can take the excuses out of them and focus on the things that are relevant and have an impact on the team on and off the pitch. It’s my job to get the best out of him, of course.”
Ozil has managed the solitary assist for the Gunners in all competitions this term and this has certainly increased the speculation over his future. There has already been the talk of him joining Fenerbahce on an 18-month loan starting from next month but he could have a chance to prove himself with Arteta at the helm. The Gunners have three league matches before the turn of the year and the games could act as a shot window for the German to prove that he can remain an influential player under the guidance of Arteta.