Player + Cash For Ozil? Why Arsenal Must Keep Hold Of Playmaker Despite Strong Barcelona Interest

Despite the criticism he has received, Mesut Ozil has had a strong debut season at Arsenal. Being the club’s record signing, a lot was expected of him, but as he had no real pre season he soon ran out of steam and was perhaps not as effective as people had hoped, at least in the second half of the season.

However, there will be few Gooners reading this that will be happy to see him linked with a move to Barcelona, who are reportedly preparing a player plus cash deal to lure him to Camp Nou.

From Ozil’s 24 league appearances this season, he has scored five goals, created nine assists and made a further 69 key passes. That’s far more than anyone else in the Arsenal set-up has managed.

He also has a couple more in the Champions League.

The way he skips past players and finds pockets of space between opposition lines has given the Gunners a different option this season and has provided Olivier Giroud with some much needed ammunition.

Arsenal letting him go would be a bad move for all, in my opinion. They would look like fools for breaking the bank to land him, only to flog him again the following summer, while Ozil would have some egg on his face having been the focus of some abuse from the crowd.

Arsenal must keep hold of the Germany international. He will only get better.