Arsenal manager Unai Emery calls out Mesut Ozil for not defending enough while off the ball.
Unai Emery became the first managerial change for Arsenal when he took over the reigns from Arsene Wenger in nearly two decades. Sadly, the former Paris Saint-Germain boss was on the losing end in a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City.
The Gunners now head to the Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea. This will be Emery’s first London Derby and he’d be hoping to grab a win in this one.
Emery wants to stamp his authority on an Arsenal team that is still very much playing in an Arsene Wenger kind of style. Unai Emery wants to play out from the back with a lot of pressing on the opposition. His plan also involves playing a game where the attackers defend more often.
Now Mesut Ozil has been severely criticized for not being defensively helpful in matches. It looks like his effort reduces immediately when the opponent has possession. Ozil, who is no more a Germany international amid racism claims and an atrocious World Cup campaign in Russia has been appealed to by Unai Emery to defend more often.
Also read: Arsenal predicted XI vs Chelsea
When asked about the defensive duties placed on Ozil in the City game, Emery replied: “Every player needs to (defend) in the true moment of a match. There are defensive moments and attacking moments. Every player each needs this commitment. For me, we need to start together, whether we are attacking or defending.
“I want that from every player. The position, he (Ozil) is playing all his career like a number 10-player, like a right-winger going inside to receive the ball. It’s clear he needs the ball more to give more options in the attacking moments.
“He needs to do (it) in each match, be demanding for us but defensive moments are for each and every player.”
The Gunners will be hoping to get the season’s first 3 points in the Premier League in the backyard of their fiercest rivals. To give themselves a little hope, they have not been on the losing end of a match in their last six fixtures against the west Londoners.