Pundit Arena Because Sport Is Everything
Gary Neville has torn into Mesut Ozil for backing out of a challenge against Manchester City on Sunday.
In the Sky Sports studio in the aftermath of the game between the two top four rivals, and with so much speculation surrounding Arsene Wenger’s future as Gunners manager, Neville instead focused his analysis on three Arsenal players. With Wenger’s “backside on the line”, as the former Man United full-back put it, he should expect a lot more from his players.
Namely, Neville called out Laurent Koscielny, Theo Walcott and Ozil for their commitment and behaviour at the Emirates.
The 42-year-old pundit believes that Wenger should not shoulder all the blame that the protesting Arsenal faithful are landing at his doorstep, with what seems to be the majority of Gunners fans now calling for his head. Koscieleny doesn’t complete the full 90 minutes frequently enough, Walcott’s behaviour after being taken off was out of order and Ozil pulling out of a 50-50 challenge at this level is just simply unacceptable, according to the ex-Valencia boss.
Unfortunately for the German playmaker, his reputation as a player not so keen on putting his body on the line stretches back much further than just Sunday.
Theo Walcott is an idiot, but Mesut Ozil never goes into a 50/50 challenge. There's a huge gutless culture at the club.
— Smith Markinson (@SmithMarkinson) April 24, 2016
How many 50:50 challenges did Mesut Ozil bottle yesterday?
— Glynn Tee (@DJGlynnTee) April 10, 2016
Has anyone anywhere ever in the history of the universe ever see Mesut Ozil compete in a 50/50 challenge? Me neither.
— Daniel (@danieldon28) February 19, 2014
If only Mesut Ozil had some bottle to go with his talent
— Ad (@A06D_) April 2, 2017
Arsenal summed up in Mesut Ozil. Bottle Job.
— Chrisss (@The_Chris_Day) April 2, 2017
See Neville’s rant in the short clip below:
Aaron Ward, Pundit Arena
