Arsene wenger back ozil ahead of Marseille clash

LONDON  (AFP) – Arsenal manager Arsene
Wenger has backed record signing Mesut Ozil to
rediscover his best form after some subdued
performances in recent weeks.
Also Arsenal manager has ruled out signing
former Gunners great Thierry Henry for a third
time after the French striker began training with
the club.
Ozil hit the ground running after his £42.4
million ($66 million, 50 million euros) transfer
from Real Madrid in September, but he has
failed to hit the heights in his last few outings.
The 25-year-old playmaker put in a
disappointing performance in Arsenal’s 1-0 loss
at Manchester United prior to the international
break and then sat out Germany’s friendly
against England after contracting a virus.
However, with Arsenal on the verge of a place in
the Champions League last 16 ahead of
Tuesday’s home game with Marseille, Wenger
has backed the former Werder Bremen man to
improve.
Arsene Wenger Photo: Arsenal.com
“First of all, Ozil is a hugely talented player,”
Wenger said at his pre-match press conference
on Monday.
“He has just arrived here three months ago and
overall did not have the best of preparations for
the league. Ozil is a young player, 25 years old,
so of course there is a lot of room for
improvement for him.”
Wenger also dismissed suggestions that Arsenal
were over-reliant on Ozil’s creative talents.
“We have plenty of players who can take the
ball and play, but because he plays in the
central part of the pitch, the ball goes through
him,” the Frenchman said.
“However, we don’t put any special
responsibility on him. Maybe he feels a bit
more pressure to do that.
“But we just want the game to be played like we
see it and do not put any special responsibility
on him because everybody in our team can
deliver great balls.”
Former Marseille midfielder Mathieu Flamini is
available to play against his former club after
serving a domestic suspension, while Theo
Walcott could feature, after making his return
during Saturday’s 2-0 home win over
Southampton, following a stomach problem.
However, Yaya Sanogo (back) and Alex Oxlade-
Chamberlain and Abou Diaby (knee) remain
unavailable, and Lukas Podolski is not yet
ready to return despite resuming training
following a hamstring injury.
Arsenal will qualify if they beat Marseille — who
can no longer qualify — and the other Group F
game between Borussia Dortmund and Napoli
ends in a draw, while a Napoli win will also
send Arsenal through if they avoid defeat.
Wenger, though, says his side cannot afford to
worry about the different permutations.
“We know that tomorrow is a very big game in
that final stage of the qualifiers. We have an
opportunity to do it at home,” he said.
“You say 12 points may not be enough, it is
true, but it might as well be enough and maybe
already (to qualify) tomorrow, so let’s get the
12 points.”
Wenger rules out second Henry return
Also Arsene Wenger  ruled out signing former
Gunners great Thierry Henry for a third time
after the French striker began training with the
club.
Henry, who now plays for American side the
New York Red Bulls, and 40-year-old former
midfielder Robert Pires have both been using
Arsenal’s training base north of London to
maintain their fitness levels.
Henry, Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer with
228 goals, rejoined the club for a loan spell in
January last year, but Wenger says there are no
plans to bring the 36-year-old back again.
“At the moment Thierry is invited just to
practise when he can and when he wants,”
Wenger said.
“We have a big staff, a very competent one, and
we have the right number to support the team
to achieve the targets.”
Wenger said the presence of Henry and Pires,
both members of Arsenal’s fabled ‘Invincibles’
side of 2003-04, had a positive impact on the
members of the current squad.
“They have no real target to bring something;
they just want to enjoy themselves and keep
their fitness,” said Wenger, whose side moved
four points clear in the Premier League after
beating Southampton 2-0 on Saturday.
“Usually they don’t practise with the first team
because they come in and work on fitness.
“It is a little bit less competitive but when we
have some room, we invite them to play with
us. They integrate well (with) the spirit of the
team.”
Henry’s first spell in north London from 1999 to
2007 saw him win the Premier League twice,
three FA Cups and reach the 2006 Champions
League final, where Arsenal lost 2-1 to
Barcelona.