Investigating the Dire Form of Arsenal's Record Signing, Mesut Ozil

After Arsenal laboured to a 2-2 draw with Hull City this weekend, manager Arsene Wenger came under fire from fans and pundits alike. Perhaps the reason that he faced such a stern examination is that the usual scapegoat, Mesut Ozil, was absent with injury. 

In recent months, Ozil has become something of a lightning rod for criticism at the Emirates Stadium. His status as Arsenal’s record signing means that he inevitably attracts greater scrutiny than other players. Ozil’s struggles have been cruelly caught in the spotlight.

With the German international now sidelined for at least six weeks with a knee ligament problem, it seems an appropriate time to take stock and a closer look at his disappointing Arsenal form. 

We’re now 18 months into Ozil’s time with Arsenal; he ought to be firmly in his stride by now. However, in the Daily Mail, Jamie Carragher expressed concern that Ozil's Premier League career will never quite burst into life: 

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Look back at all the great imports to the Barclays Premier League and you will realise they were operating at near-enough full throttle from a very early stage. Arsenal supporters should appreciate that more than most.

Take Dennis Bergkamp. It is a myth to say he did nothing in his first campaign at Highbury. 

Yes, it may have taken him six games to score his first goal but he added another 15 in 41 appearances, the last of which—an 84th-minute winner against Bolton in the final game—took Arsenal into Europe.

Thierry Henry was another. Did he need a settling-in period? If he did, it could be measured in weeks and nothing longer. 

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After a mediocre first season in London, hopes were high that he would kick on in his second campaign. There is precedent at Arsenal for a player enduring a difficult first 12 months before going on to shine.

Robert Pires' graceful style initially appeared at odds with the Premier League, but he went on to be crowned as a Footballer of the Year. However, Pires’ early days at Arsenal were relatively free of injury. He got the time he needed to build momentum and confidence. Ozil’s latest setback means it will be January before he can even address the issue of his form. 

In 2014/15, Ozil has been regularly deployed in an unfamiliar role on the flank. The following chart form WhoScored.com underlines the wide variety of roles Ozil has been asked to play this season:

Whoscored.com

Last season, Ozil played almost exclusively as a No. 10. It’s curious that Wenger has sought to shift him from his preferred role. It seems the move is in part inspired by Germany’s World Cup-winning team, in which Ozil played almost exclusively on the wing.  

However, the most pertinent issue is that Wenger lacks a powerful defensive midfield player. In some respects, Ozil has been a victim of Arsenal’s insufficient summer transfer activity.

Without recruiting a reliable anchor to play at the base of his midfield, the Arsenal boss does not feel he can afford to play a luxury player like Ozil in a central role. Instead, he has to supplement Mathieu Flamini or Mikel Arteta with the more robust Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey.

Squawka.com

Ozil could certainly be more robust. Part of the reason he provokes such frustration from Arsenal fans is his tendency to be brushed off the ball all too easily. No one expects Ozil to throw himself into challenges like compatriot Per Mertesacker, but if he is to thrive in the Premier League he needs to be stronger on the ball.

According to Squawka, he has been successful in just 55 percent of his attempted take-ons. In comparison, the tiny Santi Cazorla has won the individual duel on 59 percent of occasions. The Spaniard doesn’t have Ozil’s height or athletic physique but shows a lot more fight. 

However, one suspects that those elements of Ozil’s game would not attract much focus if he was delivering in the final third. 

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

The pure numbers aren’t great. Ozil has made six Premier League appearances this season, scoring just once and providing a single assist. By comparison, Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas has played two more games but created six more goals. Ozil arrived at Arsenal with a reputation as Europe’s premier provider of goals. It’s a reputation he is struggling to sustain.

Last month after the disappointing Champions League defeat at Borussia Dortmund, Wenger was quoted by Dominic King of the Daily Mail as saying: "I would pay the money again, of course."

Ozil remains an efficient passer of the ball—Squawka has his pass completion rate at 88 percent. However, not enough of those passes have split open the defence. Last season, Ozil could contest that in Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski, he did not have the mobile sprinters he needed to match his vision. This year, with Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck in the team, excuses are thin on the ground.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

However, it's important to point out some of the factors beyond Ozil's control. No one is suggesting he couldn't do more, but arguably he's not in the ideal environment to thrive.

There’s no doubt that his first 18 months at Arsenal have been underwhelming. That’s partly because expectations were astronomically high.

Prior to Ozil’s arrival, Arsenal fans were so starved of marquee signings that they lost perspective as to what they represent. The supporters saw big-money buys as the difference between their club and those winning titles. Many believed that buying stars equated to guaranteeing success.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Ozil’s pedigree and price tag led many to imagine he would lead Arsenal in to a glorious new era. An FA Cup triumph does not appear to have been enough to appease the Emirates faithful. They expected the acquisition of Ozil to push them in contention for football’s elite prizes: the Premier League and the Champions League. 

The truth is that it’s not that simple. Signings help, but they guarantee nothing. There’s more that separates a Jose Mourinho team from a Wenger team than money. Having taken the shackles off their spending, Arsenal are now finding that tactics, focus and discipline are more important than throwing cash around.  

Ozil has been struggling in a team that lacks shape, balance and confidence. If Arsenal are to see the best of the German, they need to provide him with a greater platform on which to shine. Responsibility for that falls squarely at the feet of Wenger.

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.