Arsene Wenger Must Face Prospect of Dropping Mesut Ozil for Arsenal

After his latest anonymous display in an Arsenal shirt, Arsene Wenger must surely be contemplating dropping Mesut Ozil from his team.

Picking out individuals seems somewhat harsh after the Gunners’ diabolical display in Dortmund. No-one in an Arsenal shirt covered themselves in any glory. However, Ozil’s price tag means he inevitably attracts attention—even if it’s for the wrong reasons.

German newspaper Bild has a rather unconventional way of grading player performances. They give each player a score from one to six. One represents the optimum level of performance, and is the score they gave to Borussia Dortmund’s Ciro Immobile after his outstanding display against Arsenal.

Mesut Ozil was awarded the ignominious six. On his return to his home nation, his countrymen have pulled no punches. It is difficult to argue with their assessment.

If pundits are a little shocked by Ozil’s struggles, they won’t come as a huge surprise to any Arsenal fan. Those who watch him week-in, week-out have become accustomed to these lackadaisical, disinterested displays.

There have been various excuses. Throughout last season, we were told Ozil was undergoing a process of adaptation to the demands of English football. That seemed plausible. However, he now has a year in England under his belt and if anything looks less comfortable than when he first arrived.

As time has worn on, his weaknesses have been exposed. Opposition defenders know that if they press Ozil, he will go into his shell. 

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What’s more, Tuesday night saw him back on German soil against Bundesliga opposition, yet his travails continued. Adaptation is not a valid justification.

Ozil apologists point to his recent deployment on the flank. This season, in order to accommodate his array of attacking midfielders, Wenger has tended to hand Ozil a starting berth in one of the wide positions.

However, it would be reductive to suggest Arsene Wenger is playing him as a pure winger. A “starting berth” is all it is. Ozil has freedom to drift pretty much as he pleases. If anything, he should be liberated from the congestion of the centre. Instead, he is wilting.

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Against Dortmund, Wenger briefly switched Ozil in to the centre, pushing Aaron Ramsey wide in a final throw of the dice. Suffice to say the German’s impact in the middle of the park was negligible.

If Wenger can’t find room for Ozil as a No. 10, and if the player continues to disappoint in any other role, the Arsenal boss must face up to the prospect of leaving his record signing out of the team. 

When bereft of confidence, he brings nothing to the party. Arsenal’s other marquee signing, Alexis Sanchez, can play poorly but still offers relentless work rate. When Ozil is struggling, the team carry him. 

It’s a difficult decision. Could relegating Ozil to the bench give him the reality check required to jolt him back into form? Alternatively, could it damage his already bruised ego? Wenger will be wary of sending one of his most gifted players into a downward spiral. 

Dropping him would be a huge call to make, but that’s precisely why Arsene Wenger is one of the best-paid managers in the world. Against Dortmund, Arsenal had Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the substitutes' bench. In their half-hour cameos, both offered the team more than Ozil.

Arsene Wenger must decide what’s best for the team. At present, it seems like Ozil is a luxury that Arsenal cannot afford.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout the 2014/15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.