• Premier League

Wenger: Don't make Ozil a scapegoat

Arsene Wenger says Mesut Ozil has been through some difficult early-season games © Getty Images

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Mesut Ozil may take a few months to get back to his best but insists the midfielder "should not be a scapegoat" for his side's failings.

Ozil was the subject of criticism following his the 2-0 defeat against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday and it was not the first time his form and contribution have been questioned since his club record £42 million club record move.

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Mathieu Debuchy was injured against Manchester City © Getty Images

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Former Germany and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack claimed Ozil lacks sufficient fight but Wenger has called for fans to stand by the player he signed from Real Madrid as he seeks to silence his doubters.

"Why should Ozil be a scapegoat? We've lost one game since April 1," Wenger said. "We have come out of a very difficult preparation period with decisive games. We had very difficult games against Besiktas [Champions League play-off match]. I don't know - a scapegoat for what?

"Fans need to be patient. You want your best players in every game but you have to be united and go through hard periods. The criticism [of Ozil] is unfair because it's post-World Cup. It takes a few months for them to get back to their best.

"What is difficult to manage today is that everybody knows absolutely everything and everybody judges people definitely on one game. You have to accept that football is played by human beings who have ups and downs like you have in your life.

"You have plenty of tacticians in the world who have managed zero games. You have to accept their opinion - they might be right, they might be wrong as well. They have to accept that.

"We live in a world where everybody has an opinion. At the end of the day, somebody always has to make a decision and that's the guy who is responsible."

Solidarity between supporters and everyone at Arsenal is the best way forward, Wenger claimed. "A club is a union between players, supporters and directors," he said. "You have to be united and sometimes go through periods together where it goes a bit less well.

"They should not be concerned and just support him. I understand that you want your best players always to make the difference in every single game and we all go through periods where we are a bit less good."

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