Since very few teams can match our technical ability, the onus is on us to break them down. If you were Di Canio or Hughes, wouldn't you park the bus against us? That said, Sunderland is at home so I doubt they'll defend.
If memory serves, when we've brought players in late/January they usually don't start their first game. That said, we haven't seen a signing like this in forever so who knows. I'd guess it depends on how much time he's had with the staff and how fit he seems to AW. Given that he's playing 60+ mins for Germany, he should be fit enough to start.
As long as he's fit and has a session or two with his new teammates, there's no reason not to start him.
Indeed. The Faroe Islands ill-fated and reckless attack on Winterfell and the House of Stark, even as King of the North was off doing battle with the evil pre-pubescent figure head Joffrey for all of Westeros, were untimely and ill-fated, a bit of hubris on the part of Faroe Island King's son. Even if it took some balls to plot and carry out. Now, alas, the son has apparently lost his cajones. Literally. I have no sympathy for the Faroes, even if they are a hearty warrior lot. They are, nonetheless, out of their league.
I thought he was the best player on the field by a mile. Looked really promising. Speed to burn and very confident. Edit: Joel Campbell, to be clear
There are huge reasons not to start him! 1) As i've said before, Ozil's game is dependent on his teammates understanding of him. He is not Messi or Ronaldo or even Bale who may be able to change a game all by himself. Reading this board, I get a sense that the expectations are very high (rightfully so), there is no reason for Wenger to bring added pressure on the kid until he gets to know his teammates, which may take the rest of the year. No, i'm not being funny. So relieve as much pressure at the beginning as possible, bring him off the bench for the first few games. 2) Ozil has 2 weaknesses in my opinion, the glaring one is his right foot which is non-existent, compared to his wizard's magic left foot. The 2nd being that he will at times go into a shell if he is hacked to death at the start of the match. I'd bring him on later against lower competition, at least at first. The opposing team will be tired and have some yellows, so hopefully the Ozil hacking won't be as severe. Which will give him a chance to get off on a good start, and relieve pressure. If the expectations on this board are any measure of the expectations of the average Arsenal fan, then the pressure is going to be out of this world. Wenger needs to find a way to relieve those pressures. I can just see this board ready to commit suicide after the first few matches because Ozil has yet to set the world on fire.
So sitting on the bench will help his teammates understand him? I guess he could chat with Gnabry and Zelalem, but i'd rather see him out there on the pitch. If Ozil has to be held out because he might get kicked, then we bought the wrong player.
Not at all. But starting him out of the gate against kickers like Sunderland and Stoke when he's had no practice time at all might be counter productive. Get him some practice time, play him in against the likes of Marseille, and he can make his first league start at Swansea.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say there's no way he starts. This is Arsene Wenger. He will introduce him cautiously as a sub first imo. That being said, we spent a lot of money on this guy so it's not like he won't be starting within the next few games.
We've conceded enough in other years I'm sure. In any event there is too much randomness in one game to bank on getting a clean sheet even if the defense is playing well. In order to take the randomness out of play, we should intend to score more goals than whatever the opponents deserve based on what they create over the general run of play plus one, which is two at a minimum.
I just think that the team has great chemistry right now. That'd be my only(?) reason not to start him.
No, but an extra week of practice will help. Ozil isn't and shouldn't be a stopgap solution. He is a long-term solution and should be treated accordingly.
When we signed Arteta and Mertesacker two years ago, they both went straight into the starting lineup the next game. When we signed Arshavin in mid season, he waited almost 3 weeks to make his debut. Not sure what Wenger will do here, but i'll be shocked if Ozil isn't in the starting lineup when we play Stoke at home.
Can't remember for sure, but I think the delay for Arshavin might have been because he would have been in the middle of the Russian Premier League's 3 month winter break when he was signed. But yeah, have to think that barring injury Ozil is starting by the Stoke game.
The first match was against Swansea at home. That is the perfect fixture to start. Not playing Sunderland at the Stadium of Filth.
It's a hard choice. I think we will Stay as we are and bring him on at about 75 if we are winning or earlir if jot