Alvida Mesut (2013-2021) — PadangBolaSepak

“The most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose.” – James Baldwin

ALVIDA MESUT

Mesut Özil's departure to Turkish club, Fenerbahçe is a deal done and dusted. An annoyingly extended procedure of a painfully expanded departure that everyone had saw it coming since the Project Restart took place. The end is inevitable. What bothers me the most is about how it could've ended yet how it actually ends.

Fact

In my honesty and humblest of opinion, this move only served as Arsenal's loss, not anyone else's. Özil had nothing much to lose. He's had enough spotlight in his glimmering rollercoaster career from Schalke to Werder to Real and Arsenal. He's showcased basically everything about the number 10 role at every club he played for. Shame we had Giroud as his upfront striker though. His silky runs, wicked touches, magical flicks, unexpected passes, infinite assists and a thunderous volley proving to be a disparage against Newcastle, what else? Arsenal lost him thrice — first came when he rose to speak about the suppressed Uyghurs. He was banned instantly in China. Secondly, when he volunteered to pay for Gunnersaurus' salary. For God sake it was a massive embarrassment to the club, to the Board and to Kroenke family obviously. But they never cared. Third is when Özil finally terminated his contract and flew to Istanbul freely like a Parinda (bird) that has fled from its cage. Literally, Fenerbahçe don't have to pay a single penny to get Özil. That's the biggest loss for Arsenal but the club deserved the humiliation after how they failed to treat their legends properly — how Arsène got sacked (in harsh word), how Ramsey bid his reluctant farewell, and most importantly, how they struggled to run such a historic club like Arsenal.

Stats

For me, regardless of his shimmering lights of a colourful career in Arsenal, full of ups and downs, his consistency over different gaffers that came, saw, and get sacked (not conquered — unfortunately), his untimely feud against Emery, his approximately eight years in the club, and his overall distribution throughout his Emirates' career is simply irreplaceable. Shame that he only had a chance to assist Auba once. He may not rest among the greatest to ever don the glorious red and white shirt but I won't hesitate to assume him as an Arsenal legend. As for now, he spent most of his career with the Gunners. He never spoke bad things about the club or ever referring the managers in negative manners. In a nutshell, he's not a snake like that someone — remember someone who had a gut to tarnish his whole emphatic career only by playing a piano? Of course, we don't have the necessity to build a statue of Mesut outside the stadium but still, he's an Arsenal infamous legend. Once a Gunner, always a Gunner. I regarded him as one of the most influential creative playmaker that Arsenal ever had. He came on the deadline day, he saw the best and worst of the squad — the likes of Squillaci, Eboue, Yossi Benayoun, Emmanuel Frimpong and Ryo Miyaichi came to mind — yet he managed to conquer by delivering the club four FA Cups to a team that had been in a trophy drought for almost ten years. And of course, every conqueror shall taste his eventual downfall. But Özil has nothing to regret. He leaves for free, to his beloved club, a club he supported as a child, a perfect place where China don't broadcast its league. Now it's up to the club for the next step — finding an imminent successor, not an emergency one.

Next

I don't care much about his must replacement. Obviously we have Emile Smith Rowe that is currently striding onwards, gliding on the pitch like his uprising form, but I'm open to successors like the rumours of Houssem Aouar, Emiliano Buendia, Martin Ødegaard, Julian Draxler or anyone else. The priority of the club now should be an attacking midfielder and a reliable left-back as Tierney's backup. Arsenal are a different side without him. Emile is a bright talent and young, promising player for the foreseeable future so the club can't push him too much as too much pressure can burden him and make his performance goes stagnant. Thomas Partey is technically not a creative playmaker, same goes to Daniel Ceballos. So an Özil successor is obligatory. There are talks to loan out second-string goalkeeper Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson after his horrendous show against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup that saw him conceded four goals. I'm not concerned about that. Point is, if Rúnarsson is gonna get a loan stint, then promote youth keepers to the first team rank, instead of buying a new backup keeper. We have lots of Hale End players at our disposal; Arthur Okonkwo, James Hillson, Karl Jakob Hein. Why waste money on things that are unnecessary? I just hope that whoever comes in to fit Özil's boots, plays sincerely for the cannon badge. Not only him but anyone that boards the ship afterwards. We've had enough wasting money for dumbasses like Willian and Shkodran. So that's it. That's that. As the most decorated player in the Emirates' era, Özil is an Arsenal legend.

Epilogue

“I started supporting Arsenal since 2007. After six years, you shockingly rock the whole footballing world by coming to Arsenal on a deadline day, unexpectedly. After 14 years, your eight-year tenure at London Colney reaches to a dead end. That's more than a half. Basically I spent more than a half of my entire supporting period by backing you up. Thank you for the gracious eight years consist of six trophies. Gutted to not see you leave with a European cup for Arsenal. Lekin jo hua tha, hua hai. What's done is done. Last time I felt this aggravated was when Wenger was heading towards the exit door after that 5-0 thumping win against bald Sean Dyche's Burnley.”

We've got Özil...

Mesut Özil...

I just don't think you understand.

He's Arsène Wenger's man,

He's better than Zidane,

We've got Mesut Özil!

Alvida, alvida, to nahi... (This goodbye isn’t a goodbye)

Alvida, alvida, na sahi... (I wish this goodbye isn’t true)

“Both stories (Arsène and Özil) deserved a happier ending,” – Sir Asyraf Mohd Noor

Alvida, Mesut.

Written by Isyhraff Marwan