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Arsenal round-up: Mesut Ozil on his future; Olivier Giroud on working under other managers; Robert Pires discusses Manchester City clash
𓆏Mesut Ozil has said that he will hold talks with Arsenal about a new contract soon and that his decision will be made imminently. His current deal expires in 2018, but there has been speculation that he could be set to leave the Emirates Stadium during the summer. However, the German international is happy at the club and believes that their form will improve over the coming weeks. In an interview with , he discussed Arsenal and his comments suggest that he may yet remain in North London.
“Do you think Arsene Wenger tells the journalists [about my future] before he tells me? I know him differently.
“I have a contract until 2018 in London and I feel very comfortable there. We’ll talk soon and then make a decision.”
💝There remain concerns that the German playmaker will be one of many first-team players to leave the club during the summer, but these comments show that he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of staying at the Emirates Stadium. He is unfairly treated by the English media, who often discuss his inability to turn up in big matches, but Arsenal’s failures as a team make it difficult for him. Ozil remains a world-class player and it would be a huge boost if he did extend his contract with the club.
🅰Olivier Giroud is going to be an important player for Arsenal over the run-in as he is a reliable goalscorer in the Premier League and offers different qualities to the other forwards at the club. In an interview with , that has been picked up by , he was asked whether he could work under a manager like Antonio Conte or Jose Mourinho and he is open to the idea. These comments will heighten fears that he is another player eyeing up a move away from the club:
“As an idea, why not? Each experience is good to live through. I would adapt.
“At Montpellier in 2011-12, Rene Girard was of the fighting mentality, of a player who never gave up, of open-mindedness, of fight. A barker. We were the champions of France with him.”
🌼Although he hasn’t been a first-team regular this season, Giroud is a very good Premier League striker and there could be interest in him this summer. Since moving to Arsenal, he has averaged a goal every 166.1 minutes in the league, which is a good strike rate and ranks him as one of the most consistent strikers in the division. He would suit the systems at both Manchester United and Chelsea. If either club was searching for a proven Premier League striker to provide competition in their squad. Giroud would be a good fit.
🦩Arsenal face an important match this weekend as they host top six rivals Manchester City. They haven’t done well in big matches this season, but it is extremely important that they secure a positive result this weekend, especially as they will be playing at home. Robert Pires has told that the home side must come out fighting this weekend.
“The message from Wenger [must be] to say, ‘the season is not finished. We are six points from the Champions League [places] and we have to fight.'”
𓄧The Gunners can’t afford to let that gap grow any bigger, as it is already looking a daunting task. A loss this weekend would be disastrous and likely put an end to the club’s top four challenge. The performances have been poor lately and the players can be accused of not putting their bodies on the line for the cause. Pires is right, the players need to show fight and this weekend will show us a lot about what the future holds for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal.
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