Arsene Wenger insists Mesut Ozil
doesn't deserve to be made the
scapegoat for Arsenal's spluttering
performances despite the German
star's lacklustre efforts this
season.
Wenger splashed out a club record £42 million ($76
million) to sign Ozil from Real Madrid last term but,
although he won the World Cup with Germany this
year, the playmaker is yet to make a significant
impact on the Premier League.
Ozil came under fire again following another
uninspiring display in Arsenal's 2-0 Champions
League defeat at Borussia Dortmund in midweek.
But Wenger is adamant there is no reason to
criticise Ozil and he claimed the 25-year-old
remains an integral part of his plans.
"Why should he be a scapegoat? For what? We've
lost one game since April 1. Let's be realistic," said
Wenger, whose side travel to second placed Aston
Villa on Saturday looking for just their second
league win of the season.
"We have come out of a very difficult preparation
period with decisive games. We had very difficult
games against Besiktas. I don't know - a scapegoat
for what?
"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."
Stung by a last-minute defeat in the Champions
League, Manchester City will attempt to make up
ground in the Premier League title race when they
host leaders Chelsea on Sunday.
A 90th-minute strike by former player Jerome
Boateng condemned City to a 1-0 loss at Bayern
Munich on Wednesday and left Manuel Pellegrini's
side without a victory in three matches.
Chelsea can open up an eight-point lead over the
champions if they pull off a repeat of their 1-0 win
at the Etihad Stadium in February and City midfielder
Fernandinho says it is a game that his side must
win.
"That is not easy for a big team such as City (to
lose against Bayern), but the best way to recover
our confidence and our best qualities is to win the
next game," said the Brazilian.
"Already we think about the Chelsea game. We have
to win this game because we have had a (2-2)
draw against Arsenal and a (1-0) loss at home to
Stoke. We have to recover points to think about the
top of the table."
Chelsea are gunning for a fifth consecutive league
victory, but their momentum took a blow in
Wednesday's 1-1 draw at home to Schalke.
A breakaway goal by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar earned
the German side a point after Cesc Fabregas had
put the hosts ahead and Chelsea captain John
Terry has urged his team to cut out the defensive
errors that have seen them concede six goals in
their first four league outings.
"It was our corner, we were attacking, and we got
caught on the break. It shouldn't happen. It's the
second time already this season it's happened,"
Terry said.
City will restore Sergio Aguero to their starting XI
and seven-goal top scorer Diego Costa will return
for Chelsea after the two players started their
respective sides' Champions League openers on
the bench.
Liverpool survived a scare in the Champions
League, winning 2-1 at home to Bulgarian
newcomers Ludogorets Razgrad thanks to a 93rd-
minute penalty by captain Steven Gerrard.
With Daniel Sturridge sidelined by injury, Liverpool
have been labouring in front of goal, but ahead of
Saturday's trip to West Ham United, manager
Brendan Rodgers has urged their fans to show
patience.
"We've had to bring in a lot of new players because
of the demands of the Champions League so that
naturally takes time and we've got players adapting
to a new country," Rodgers said.
Having seen their side crush Queens Park Rangers
4-0 last weekend, Manchester United's supporters
will hope their team confirm their return to form at
promoted Leicester City on Sunday.
Manager Louis van Gaal must decide whether to
hand a first start to new signing Radamel Falcao,
who came off the bench in the latter stages of the
win over QPR.
Fixtures
Saturday
Aston Villa v Arsenal
Burnley v Sunderland
Newcastle United v Hull City
Queens Park Rangers v Stoke City
Swansea City v Southampton
West Ham United v Liverpool
Sunday
Everton v Crystal Palace
Leicester City v Manchester United
Manchester City v Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur v West Bromwich Albion
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