Skip to content

Premier League: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger backs Mesut Ozil

Arsene Wenger Arsenal
Image: Arsene Wenger heads to Aston Villa hoping Arsenal will bounce back from their midweek defeat.

Arsene Wenger insists Mesut Ozil must not be used as a 'scapegoat' for Arsenal's shortcomings.

The German World Cup winner, who is Arsenal's record £42million signing, has come under fire following a couple of uninspiring displays, culminating in the 2-0 UEFA Champions League defeat away to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.

Wenger, though, rejected constant criticism of the 25-year-old, who remains an integral part of his plans.

"Why should he be a scapegoat? For what? We've lost one game since April 1. Let's be realistic," said the Arsenal manager.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger discusses the form of Mesut Ozil, the fitness of Jack Wilshere and Mathieu Debuchy, and the defeat against Borussia Dortmund

"We have come out of a very difficult preparation period with decisive games. We had very difficult games against Besiktas. I don't know - a scapegoat for what?

"What is difficult to manage today is that everybody knows absolutely everything and everybody judges people definitely on one game. You have to accept that football is played by human beings who have ups and downs like you have in your life.

"You have plenty of tacticians in the world who have managed zero games. You have to accept their opinion - they might be right, they might be wrong as well. They have to accept that.

You have plenty of tacticians in the world who have managed zero games. You have to accept their opinion - they might be right, they might be wrong as well. They have to accept that.
Arsene Wenger

"We live in a world where everybody has an opinion and we have to live with that. At the end of the day, somebody always has to make a decision and that's the guy who is responsible."

Wenger’s side will now try to bounce back when the travel to high-flying Aston Villa on Saturday.

“Everyone who started the game will be available again. Flamini is back again because he was not on the team sheet, he’s back and available," he said.

Wenger also had positive news on Jack Wilshere following fears the England midfielder had suffered a recurrence of the right ankle problem which sidelined him for 15 months.

“I was wrong,” he said. “It was in fact his left ankle and it was only a kick that made him turn it a little bit, so he’s all right.”

Image: Mathieu Debuchy

Wenger is still waiting to discover whether defender Mathieu Debuchy requires surgery after damaging ligaments in his left ankle during the 2-2 draw with Manchester City last weekend.

“We’ll know tonight,” added Wenger during Friday’s press conference. “He has an exploration of his ankle tonight and they go in and look to see how the ligament is damaged.

“If he doesn’t need surgery, it will be six weeks, if he does it will be three months. At the moment we don’t know.”

Arsenal are unbeaten in the Premier League, but have now drawn three matches.

Wenger said: "We want to respond. We had a disappointing performance more than a defeat.

"I think what was important is that we came out of Saturday's game feeling that we had a very good performance and on Tuesday night we didn't, so it's important we come back.

"We have confidence in our strengths and we want to show that we can perform in the game that is important on Saturday."

Around Sky