'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Mesut Ozil is one of the biggest enigmas in football today. The ex-Germany international has been a much-discussed topic among fans and pundits for years. Very few players divide opinion as much as the mercurial number 10.
Everyone seems to have an opinion on Ozil and what should and can be done with him. However, the consensus standpoint is that on his day he can be the best playmaker in the world. When he is not up for it, he can simply be a minus to the team.
Amidst all the debate and discussion, the opinion that matters the most is that of Arsenal head coach, Unai Emery. So far this season Emery has managed the club and Ozil pretty well. The question is how long will he be willing to stick with a player who struggles for consistency as much as Ozil?
Here's a look at possible solutions for Emery to the Ozil conundrum:
#1 Keep Ozil and rotate when necessary
The quality, ability or class of Mesut Ozil has never been in doubt. Mesut Ozil has topped the assist charts in the Bundesliga, Premier League, La Liga, Euros and the world cup. He is the fastest player in Premier League history to reach 50 assists.
The benefits of keeping a player of Ozil's calibre in the Emery-led Arsenal revolution will be immense. He provides a different quality to all the other attacking options Emery has at his disposal. He is in the top three for chances created among his teammates even though he has played less games.
The 2015/16 season saw Ozil come close to equaling Thierry Henry's Premier league record of 20 assists in a season. He finished that season with 6 goals and 19 assists.
The form and consistency he showed throughout that season shows the height a motivated, fully fit and firing Ozil can attain and possibly eclipse.
He can also be rotated if Unai Emery deems it fit. Games such as this season's away game at Bournemouth and other fixtures that will require certain characteristics that Ozil does not possess should see Ozil dropped and better-suited players for such occasion given a chance.
#2 Sell Ozil
Sometimes the best solution to a problem is ripping the band-aid off. If Emery thinks that Ozil is not contributing consistently enough with his quality and performance then selling him is the best option.
Unai Emery must first try his best to coerce consistent big-game performances from him. If at the end of the season he thinks it is not worth it, then letting him go is best for all parties.
Selling Ozil has the double advantage of freeing up Arsenal's wage bill and sending a message to the other Arsenal stars.
Recent rumours have emerged that Italian giants, Inter Milan are interested in buying Ozil. Other European clubs like PSG, Bayern Munich and AC Milan will also want a player of Ozil's calibre on their books.
Potential suitors for Mesut Ozil from non- European clubs will have the financial muscle and will to buy and keep him. China, Japan and the MLS are the three most likely destinations.
Young playmakers like Miguel Almiron, Federico Chiesa, Kai Havertz or Christian Pulisic can be bought to replace the 30-year-old ex-German international. Older more established players like Suso, Nabil Fekir, Draxler or Isco can also be drafted in as his replacement.
#3 Adjust his philosophy to suit Ozil
Star players are players that a team are built around. The issue with building a team around a particular player is that the team tends not to do well when the player leaves, is injured or out of form. Real Madrid's poor season without Ronaldo is a testament to that.
Ozil may not be as great a player as Ronaldo but he certainly has the quality to have a team built around him. Unai Emery can do this by adjusting his formation to suit him.
A 4-3-1-2 formation with Ozil sitting in the hole behind a striking duo will relive him of defensive responsibility while keeping 3 central midfielders behind him to aid in the attacking and defensive moments. Any other tactical changes that will benefit Ozil and the team should also be adopted.
Antonio Conte achieved this freedom for Hazard and Willian by playing a back three and two defensive midfielders (Kante and Matic) to provide a solid base behind the attack.
The added responsibility of carrying the team may help to coerce consistency from the mercurial talent.
