Craig Burley Sympathises With Unai Emery For Inheriting “Nightmare” Player

By The Editor
on 20th August 2018

Craig Burley believes Mesut Ozil is becoming a nightmare for Unai Emery…

ESPN’s Craig Burley believes that Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has been left with what he called “a £300k-per-week nightmare”, obviously referring to Mesut Ozil (via ESPN FC).

As per usual following a big defeat, Ozil has come under mass criticism and many are wondering if he’s compatible with the way Emery wants us to play.

The 29-year-old has started both games against Manchester City and Chelsea, though he was hooked off by the boss after an hour at Stamford Bridge as we looked for a winner.

After the game, Emery claimed that he wanted more control and combativeness in midfield and thus brought on Aaron Ramsey to partner Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi in midfield.

For Burley, however, he claims Ozil is one of the biggest headaches Arsene Wenger has left Emery to inherit.

“Unai Emery has inherited, inherited, a £300,000-a-week nightmare,” the former Chelsea man said.

“He took him off [vs Chelsea] for a reason. You’re a man down without the ball and then when you have the ball, he doesn’t do enough.

“At the time he does it, at times he will do something brilliant because he’s got brilliance in him, Mesut Ozil.

“But he’s inherited a £300,000-plus player and now he’s got to make a decision ‘what do I do with this guy?’. Where do you play him? How do you get the best out of him?”

It was always going to come down to this, Ozil wants to play in a position that doesn’t really exist among the elite clubs anymore.

Football has evolved and gone are the days are you could have a floating No.10 who didn’t offer much when out of possession but was compensated for.