Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil…polar opposities

Two of Arsenal’s biggest stars in the past few years have become two of the most polar opposite stories of the past few years.

One player couldn’t wait to leave, while the other player won’t leave.

I’m talking about Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. Both came to Arsenal with world-class credentials. Both proved their pre-arrival publicity was no fluke.

Let’s start with Alexis Sanchez. After a tremendous start with the Gunners (60 goals in 122 games), the Chilean eventually lost his way at the Emirates and wanted out. So, off to Manchester United he went, and now, 2 1/2 years later, he has publically stated “he regretted signing for Manchester United from his first training session.” Even his $662,000 (USD) weekly paycheck wasn’t enough to make him happy at Man United.

“I ended up signing without much information about what was happening in the move,” he said on Instagram Live. “The first days that I was with my colleagues, sometimes there are things that you do not realise until you arrive. The first training I had I realised many things. I got home and I told my representatives, ‘Can’t the contract be terminated to return to Arsenal?’ “They start laughing and I told them that something did not sit right with me. It had already been signed.”

It got so bad for Sanchez at Man United he wasn’t even picked for the bench in a game v West Ham United. “That had never happened to me as a player. It bothered me and I said it couldn’t be possible. To go from being one of the best in the Premier League to not playing in five months. I came to my house and I was very sad. The next day I trained in a double shift, because I love what I do.”

After one-and-a-half horrible seasons with the Red Devils he was loaned-out to Inter Milan. This summer, he signed on with the Serie A club on a permanent basis.

I guess the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, right Alexis?

On the other side of the coin is Mesut Ozil. Once, he was one of the most gifted playmakers in the game. The German World Cup winner possessed magical feet, and incredible creativity with the ball. Now at 31-years-old, he is in the last season of his Arsenal contract.

But, here’s his dilemma. He makes $463,000 (USD) per week, but he didn’t play one second of football after the season restarted in June. He has been offered a breathtaking $19.9-million (USD) per year by Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassar, but he says he is staying at Arsenal through the end of his contract.

His teammates claim he is a really good guy, a team player, and works hard in training. However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta doesn’t seem to have a place for Ozil in his plans. It’s obvious Ozil can’t, or won’t, play both ends of the field. Arteta demands players who work hard with, and without the ball. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a perfect example of an offensive-minded player who can apply defensive pressure and cause chaos to the opposition. But, unfortunately, that’s just not in Ozil’s football DNA.

So, why does he want to stay at Arsenal? Is it the money, London, his wife, his charitable work? Maybe, he thinks after one more season, and another year of huge paychecks, he might decide to call it a career. Here’s a player who still has so much talent, who probably will either ride the bench or not even make the club’s team sheet on match day.

I would think Arsenal wants him to leave, desperately. The club could use his large salary to sign the players Arteta wants to sign.

Is Ozil just being a thorn in Arteta’s side, or does he really think he can win over the boss and find a place in his plans for the season?

Know one really knows, except Mesut Ozil.

The one thing that was for sure, when Alexis and Ozil played together, and brought their A games, it was pure magic to watch!

Cheers, and stay healthy and safe!

Gunner1953