Arsene Wenger doesn’t hold back when it comes to words. The manager of Arsenal is comfortable when it comes to talking and he is able to do so in a few different languages. So it was unusual when Wenger only used a single word to describe what he saw when World Champion Mesut Özil was about to make his return to training. The world “hunger” was used so frequently by Wenger that you would have thought Özil was becoming obese. But it was obviously meant in a different way.
Long time out due to injury
Özil was out from the beginning of October 2014 to the beginning of January 2015 with a knee injury and Wenger’s side had to do without the World Champion from matchdays 8 to 20. Özil made his comeback on matchday 21 as he came on in the 73rd minute against Stoke City and since then it has been clear that Wenger’s use of the world “hunger” was the perfect description. Özil has played six times for Arsenal since his return, with the side winning five of those games. Arsenal have jumped from seventh to third in the Premier League thanks to that run and are now on 51 points, only behind Manchester City (55) and Chelsea (60).
That’s a lot to do with Özil. The Germany international has scored two goals and has five assists in his last five league games. Özil was so good that even manager Wenger changed what he said. “The quality of his game is incredible,” said Wenger recently. And his teammates agree with that. “He can make the difference when he has confidence,” said striker Olivier Giroud. Özil has also been described by the English media as the “brain of the game.”
Hopes rest on Mesut Özil
The hopes are resting on the shoulders of Özil ahead of their game tonight against Queens Park Rangers (20:45 CET). Manager Wenger is not only happy with the German but with his side as a whole for the way they reacted to their defeat in the Champions League. They lost 3-1 at home to AS Monaco in the first leg of their last 16 tie and it will require a footballing miracle for them to reach the last eight. They reacted to the 3-1 loss with a 2-0 win over Everton thanks to two assists from Özil. “We showed our mental strength and found the right response,” said Wenger. And looking ahead to tonight’s game: “We’re on a run in the Premier League and we want to build on that.”
Arsene Wenger doesn’t hold back when it comes to words. The manager of Arsenal is comfortable when it comes to talking and he is able to do so in a few different languages. So it was unusual when Wenger only used a single word to describe what he saw when World Champion Mesut Özil was about to make his return to training. The world “hunger” was used so frequently by Wenger that you would have thought Özil was becoming obese. But it was obviously meant in a different way.
Long time out due to injury
Özil was out from the beginning of October 2014 to the beginning of January 2015 with a knee injury and Wenger’s side had to do without the World Champion from matchdays 8 to 20. Özil made his comeback on matchday 21 as he came on in the 73rd minute against Stoke City and since then it has been clear that Wenger’s use of the world “hunger” was the perfect description. Özil has played six times for Arsenal since his return, with the side winning five of those games. Arsenal have jumped from seventh to third in the Premier League thanks to that run and are now on 51 points, only behind Manchester City (55) and Chelsea (60).
That’s a lot to do with Özil. The Germany international has scored two goals and has five assists in his last five league games. Özil was so good that even manager Wenger changed what he said. “The quality of his game is incredible,” said Wenger recently. And his teammates agree with that. “He can make the difference when he has confidence,” said striker Olivier Giroud. Özil has also been described by the English media as the “brain of the game.”
Hopes rest on Mesut Özil
The hopes are resting on the shoulders of Özil ahead of their game tonight against Queens Park Rangers (20:45 CET). Manager Wenger is not only happy with the German but with his side as a whole for the way they reacted to their defeat in the Champions League. They lost 3-1 at home to AS Monaco in the first leg of their last 16 tie and it will require a footballing miracle for them to reach the last eight. They reacted to the 3-1 loss with a 2-0 win over Everton thanks to two assists from Özil. “We showed our mental strength and found the right response,” said Wenger. And looking ahead to tonight’s game: “We’re on a run in the Premier League and we want to build on that.”
