Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Freddie Ljungberg has claimed there are not many players in the world better than Mesut Ozil when it comes to retaining possession and playing clever passes.
Ozil has of course been one of the most polarising figures in world football this season with the Germany international being left out of Arsenal’s 25-man squad despite being one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League.
Understandably, after the Gunners’ latest loss, conversation again turned towards the Ozil dilemma, and it’s clear that Ljungberg doesn’t agree with Arteta’s choice to freeze him out.
“When you have a player like that, I don’t say that Mesut should play every single week, when you play against maybe a top-team, not Tottenham because they sit back, but maybe when you play against City, who keeps the ball a lot,” Ljungberg said.
“When you have possession and you need to keep the ball a lot, and you need to find that little cute pass, I don’t think there are many better than Mesut when doing that.
“That’s a decision they’ve made, I don’t know why the decision has been made, he’s outside of the 25 man squad, so they can’t use it, but for those things I don’t think there are many players better in the world.”
Ljungberg will of course know more about Ozil than most of us seeing as he was his coach this time last year, so you have to take these comments seriously.
However, it’s hard to agree with the Arsenal legend’s view on the German as he’s not been that player for quite some time now.
A prime Mesut Ozil is amongst the best creative midfielders the world has ever seen, but we’re nearly in 2021, and the German has been left out of Arsenal’s squad for a reason.
Ozil is always going to be a player that will divide opinion, and it’s clear to see that Ljungberg has a strong view on the ex-Real Madrid man.
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