We’re really going to miss his cliches.
What does Mesut Ozil have in common with a car? I bet you weren’t expecting to be asked that today.
Well, we weren’t really expecting to ask that question either, that is until Arsene Wenger had his say on the midfielder’s performances at the World Cup.
To answer that question, both a car and Ozil have a handbrake, apparently…
Dusting off his old book of footballing cliches, Wenger spilled the beans on his former player when to speaking beIN Sports.
The Frenchman was discussing Ozil’s plights as Germany were knocked out in the group stages, and illustrated his point in typically Wenger fashion.
He said: “I know Özil well, he is a fantastic, exceptional footballer but him and Gündogan suffered from what happened before the World Cup (Erdogan business).
“Özil is a guy who needs support, he doesn’t need controversy.
“When I watched him play, I could feel that there were situations in the game where he could have moved forward, progressed more vertical.
“I always was thinking ‘come on, that’s not the real Özil I know’, the guy who can kill.
“He did play alright, but I think he didn’t play with the complete freedom, he played a little bit with the handbrake at this World Cup.”
Arsenal fans will be familiar with Wenger’s famous handbrake reference.
The Frenchman often used it to describe both the individual and team performances throughout his 22-year tenure at the north London club.
Known as ‘Wengerisms’, handbrake, along with “mental strength/fatigue” and “little bit hamstring niggle,” are phrases now deeply embedded in the vocabulary of any Gunners fans.
It’s good to know that he’s still making use of them even though he’s currently out of a job.
Oh Arsene, we do miss you already.
#EmeryOut?
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