Ex-Gunner Arshavin: Ozil Is World-Class, But He Has No Future At Arsenal

Mesut Ozil is still a “world-class player” but he has no future at Arsenal, according to Andrey Arshavin, who thinks the midfielder “slows down the game” too often.

Arshavin would like to see someone else come in and fill the role
currently occupied by Ozil in the Gunners starting line up, with it his
belief that the enigmatic playmaker has a negative effect on the team’s
attacking output.

“As a player, of course, I respect him. Mesut is a world-class player,” the former Arsenal attacker told 888 Sport.

“But
for me personally he slows down the game. I would prefer to use another
player. Mikel, as we can see, is the opposite and plays him a lot.

“He has improved his game at Arsenal but still, in the future, I do not see him there.”

Arteta’s men have slipped to ninth in the Premier League standings
after 28 fixtures of the current season, and look destined to miss out
on Champions League football for a fourth successive year.

Performances
have improved since the ex-Manchester City assistant’s arrival at the
Emirates, but Arshavin believes his old club are still lacking in depth
at the back.

“For me, Arsenal’s squad is not balanced,” said
the Russian. “Offensively-wise they are very good and in attack, they
play very pretty football.

“It’s good to watch. But defensively – even in my period – Arsenal is weak.

“Sometimes that is down to injuries and sometimes they don’t have enough experience but I don’t know why this doesn’t change.”

Arshavin
did, however, reserve praise for Arteta, insisting the Spaniard was a
good choice for the top job at Arsenal due to his previous experience
working under Wenger as a player.

“Regarding Arteta, it was a
good choice because he has spent time at Arsenal and knows the club
well. He worked next to Arsene and can take good experience from him,”
Arshavin added.

“He also has the respect of the club and
players. And since he has taken over at Arsenal they have changed: not
too much but in a good way.

“But it is difficult to predict if Arsenal can finish in the Champions League zone, especially in the time we’re in now.”