By Billy Rodgers
Well its official, Mesut Özil has signed for the Arsenal for 42.5 million pounds from the prestigious club of Real Madrid. If you would have told a Real Madrid fan, or an Arsenal fan a week ago that Mesut Özil would sign for Arsenal FC, you would most likely be looked at like you had three eyes. The signing of Mesut Özil has to be one of Arsene Wenger’s biggest signing since Dennis Bergkamp. A fee of 42.5 million pounds absolutely smashes Arsenal’s previous transfer record of 15 million pounds for the Russian, Andrey Arshavin. Simply put, this a huge step into putting Arsenal back on top of the Premier League, and competing on all other fronts for trophies. It is a huge statement of intent from Arsene Wenger, Stan Kroneke, and Ivan Gazidis that has shaken up the football world.
Mesut Özil is German born but is the son of a Turkish immigrant, and can add instant quality to the midfield of any team on this planet. Özil’s magical left foot can open up defenses in an instant and his ability, vision, and quality, allow him to create more chances and get more assists than any other player. Özil started his career out at Schalke, and then moved to Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, and now the Arsenal! Last season for Real Madrid, Özil made a stunning 35 assists. He also completed a total of 26 assists in the 2011/2012 season. Below I will describe how Özil will fit into the Arsenal midfield and much more! Enjoy!
Özil wore #10 at Real Madrid and is one of the best central attacking midfielder’s in the world. He should easily be able to slot in right behind Olivier Giroud. Arsenal should have signed a top class striker this summer to go along with Özil but the club ran out of time. A combination of a top class striker and Özil behind him would be deadly and would make Arsenal a contender for the title for sure. Never less Özil will start off with Santi Cazorla on his left and Theo Walcott on his right. Things could change when Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski both return from long term injuries. The signing of Özil will also allow veteran Tomas Rosicky to get some much needed rest and he will not be relied upon as much to create chances. Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey will sit in behind Özil and should be great supporting players to him. Here is what the Arsenal team will most likely look like:
Having Özil in the midfield will also see Olivier Giroud have a fantastic season. Giroud already has 4 goals in 5 games with Rosicky, Wilshere, or Ramsey sitting behind him, but he will now get chance after chance with Mesut Özil creating in the center of the field. Theo Walcott will also be greatly improved by the addition of Mesut Özil. With the combination of Mesut Özil’s vision and passing and Walcott’s great movement and blazing speed, this could turn into a potentially lethal combination. The ideal play would be a counter attack with Özil bringing the ball down the center of the pitch, he then plays a through ball to a streaking Walcott, who crosses it anywhere near Giroud and he puts it away.
Özil doesn’t just greatly benefit Arsenal on the field but he also has a great effect financially as well. Today is Wednesday September 4, only two days after Özil was signed, and there has already been over 15,000 Özil jerseys bought. This creates a profit of about a million pounds which will only increase as the days go on. It is almost scary to see how great of an impact Özil is making in the football world. People are finally starting to see that Arsenal mean business and are very impressed with the club. Apart from jerseys Özil will also attract more big players to the Emirates. He won’t single handedly make Arsenal win Arsenal win the league, but he is the first step into Arsenal becoming a world class team again.
Özil Quotes on Arsenal:
On why he chose to move to Arsenal: “Firstly, I’m really looking forward to it because I have the faith of the coach. I had spoken to him at length on the telephone and he explained his plans and that he has faith in me and that is what I need as a player. I’m also looking forward to being on the same team as Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker. I’m looking forward to the new challenge there. I’ve already heard that they have super fans, the city is great and the team is fantastic and I’m really looking forward to that.”
On Arsenal moving forward: “From our negotiations it is clear the Club has huge ambition and I look forward to being part of an exciting future.”
On joining Arsenal: “I am thrilled to be joining a club of the stature of Arsenal and am looking forward to playing in the Premier League. It will be great for my own personal development as a player and I am particularly looking forward to working with Arsène Wenger”
Watch Mesut Özil:
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