This piece is part of a larger work on Unai Emery’s Arsenal tenure, which will soon be released…
A magician on the pitch, Özil was an insanely talented Arsenal player but often inconsistent. A World Cup winner, the attacking midfielder possessed a tendency to alternate between incredible performances to then being known for, “going missing in games.”
When Unai Emery was first appointed, former Arsenal striker Alan Smith told the Express: “There have been times in recent years when Ozil seems to have switched off and lost the ball, and the team have lost the ball and the team have suffered.”
“It’s going to be fascinating how Emery deals with that. Ozil is a player who signed for fortunes and he is expected to play. That is going to be one of the most interesting things to watch. How is Ozil going to fit in with the new regime?”
If Emery was to succeed at Arsenal, clearly, he would have to bring the best out of Arsenal’s star player. “Emery has to get hold of Ozil, try to get the best out of him, get him on board.”
Emery’s methods to install discipline in Özil, did not have the desired effects. The pair could never see eye to eye, as their strained relationship formed an albatross around the Spaniard’s neck during his stint in North London.
From his physicality and controversial work rate, to tactical reasons, Özil would be mysteriously benched or left out of matchday squads.
Failure to connect with one of his biggest star led to frequent clashes. Substituted in an away game, Özil rejected his coach’s handshake as he threw his gloves on the pitch side turf in frustration.
After the playmaker was dropped for another away fixture against West Ham, Emery made it clear he would not afford Özil any star treatment. Despite being fully fit and training throughout the week in preparation for the match, he was not included in Arsenal’s matchday squad.
“For me he is like another player,” Emery said afterwards, “It’s one decision, when one player is coming or not coming. Sometimes he is helping us, at other moments he is not helping us because of his injury or because maybe the match is not for him. But he is a good player.”
Further fallout between the pair, resulted in a January incident where Emery communicated to Arsenal’s attacking midfielder, he was free to leave.
David Ornstein of the BBC said at the time, “They’re not just rumours. Unai Emery has suggested to Mesut Ozil that it would be best for him to leave the club. And the hierarchy of the club feels that they would like him to move on.”
At odds, Özil stayed and won back his place in Emery’s team. Their relationship had been repaired but more problems soon arose.
In the end of season Europa League Final, an angered and disappointed Özil accused Emery of not being a coach after being substituted off in a one-sided match.
A good preseason was shared between the two, however Özil’s season was delayed by a carjacking attempt. Once resolved, the playmaker struggled for game time in the early stages of Emery’s second season.
Absent from the Europa League squad against Standard Liege, Emery revealed the reasons behind Özil’s matchday exile.
“I am thinking every time to decide the best players for each match and the best players in the squad to play and to help us,” Emery stated. “When I decided he shouldn’t be in the squad it’s because I think other players deserved it more.”
Towards the end of Emery’s reign, Özil was filmed in a training disagreement with Emery. Within hours, he posted a picture of himself, mouth wide open in laughter accompanied with the cryptic caption, “You make me laugh…”
You make me laugh… pic.twitter.com/DohUXm3oSH
— Mesut Özil (@M10) October 23, 2019
At the time, Özil had only played twice all season. Days prior, in an exclusive interview with The Athletic, he had admitted to not seeing eye to eye with his manager.
“I’ve worked under some of the biggest coaches in the world — Arsene, Jose Mourinho, Joachim Low — and always I show respect. It’s the same for Unai. We might not see eye-to-eye on everything but that’s normal, it’s life and it’s the same with my family and friends. You have to accept it and go forward.”
Shortly after, Özil was returned to the Arsenal starting line-up. But it was too little too late, as Emery parted ways with the club. “I spoke a lot with Özil,” were Emery’s words, months after his Arsenal departure.
“He has to be self‑critical too, analyse his attitude and commitment. I tried with all my might to help Özil. Throughout my career, talented players have reached their best level with me. I was always positive, wanting him to play, be involved.”
“In pre-season I told him I wanted to help recover the best Özil. I wanted a high level of participation and commitment in the dressing room. I respected him and thought he could help.”
Emery’s downfall partially stemmed from his treatment of Özil. Some players were afraid to speak up and choose to remain silent, while others stood up for Özil…
I am a young writer, focused on producing high quality content. With a love for both journalism and writing, I have a growth mindset, where I strive for continuous improvement. I am also an: Occasional freelancer. Unai Emery Enthusiast. A person of many plans.
Also interested in the psyche, mentality and mental health of players – their motivation, the harmful effects of social media, and how the football world affects them.
Emery was a good coach and he inherited a major problem with the Ozil gang,namely Ozil,Mustafi,Kolasniac and Guendouzi who were distruptive and under performing.
But unlike Arteta who has a ruthless streak and has dealt with them Uni seemed to nice and by only taking limited measures to deal with them he allowed them to create problems which certainly added to his demise.
Unai Emery is a decent man but unfortunately he was in over his head at Arsenal dealing with all the dressing room politics and as for Ozil and his PR team orchestrated by the nephew of Daniel Levy, we’re well rid of the lot of them.