Emmanuel Petit blasts Mesut Ozil

Emmanuel Petit let rip at Mesut Ozil — accusing the German of lacking desire and being a ‘ghost’ for two years.

Ozil was hauled off at halftime by boss Unai Emery as the Gunners stumbled to a 1-1 draw at Brighton on Wednesday.

And Gunners legend Petit, who won the league and FA Cup with Arsenal, fumed at Ozil’s mentality in recent seasons.

The Frenchman said: “Arsenal were magnificent against Brighton for 30 minutes. They played good football but, just as they did at Southampton, disappeared all of a sudden.
“The quality they had been showing vanished and it became obvious what their weakest link was – the defense. The goal they conceded was awful.

“Mesut Ozil was taken off at halftime. I’m a big fan of his, but he has been a ghost for two years.

“Where is the Ozil who was one of the best players around, making so many assists and goals? I think he has lost his desire on the pitch, it’s not there anymore.”

Petit also slated Emery’s substitutions during the game at the Amex and said the Gunners were lucky to have previously gone 22 matches unbeaten.
Speaking to PaddyPower, he added: “On top of that, I wasn’t happy with Unai Emery’s substitution of Alexandre Lacazette – he and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are a powerful force when they play together, Arsenal are a much better team.

“Aaron Ramsey is fighting for another contract amid interest from other clubs and I was not convinced when he entered the pitch.

“I don’t know what’s going on with some of these players. During the long unbeaten run, you thought Arsenal are back on track. But now I look back at the number of those games in which they were lucky and, suddenly, reality returned.

“In defense they are weak, they’re average. They make individual and collective errors. Sometimes you have to laugh. The injuries are not an excuse, most of the players who stepped in are internationals.
“It’s the same old story with Arsenal: if you put it up to them, you have a strong chance of winning the game.

“Arsenal need to bring in more players from the transfer market if they want to reach the Champions League.”

Arsenal travel to league leaders Liverpool tomorrow — and Petit reckons they could be on for hiding.

He said: “They need to raise their game mentally on Saturday. I’ve seen glimpses of improvement compared to previous years but you can’t perform for just half an hour against Liverpool.

“You need to be fully switched on for 90 minutes, especially away from home.

“If Arsenal goes to Anfield thinking they can just keep plodding away the way they have been, it’s over – they’ll leave the stadium with three or four goals against them.”