The Arsenal boss has reportedly been unhappy with Ozil’s work rate and physical contribution this season, especially in away games.

On Sunday Emery opted for Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan over Ozil, who didn’t even go out to warm up at half-time.

According to the Daily Mirror Emery was ‘particularly disappointed’ with the German’s performance in last month’s 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace, and it was the reason he dropped him on Sunday.

After the game Emery confirmed that it was a tactical decision based on giving his team greater ‘physicality and intensity’:

“We thought how we can be better in the match today, which is very demanding with the physicality and the intensity, but every player is important.(Bringing Ozil on) depended on how the match was going in the 90 minutes, and I decided for another option.”

The Daily Mail have suggested that Emery may use Arsenal’s number 10 sparingly in future away games.

Additionally the Daily Express have reported that a lack of game time and interest from Man United and Barcelona could convince Ozil to consider his future at the Emirates in January.

However, it’s unlikely that Arsenal will accept anything under £100 million.

This is the latest of a series of incidents that have suggested the Arsenal boss has a strained relationship with the 30-year-old.

The first came when Emery took the German off at half-time in their 3-2 defeat to Chelsea after a poor first-half display.

Ozil was then left out of the home win against West Ham, with former PSG manager claiming the 2014 World Cup winner was ill.

However, some have proposed that a training ground bust up was the reason for his exclusion, which Emery has since denied.

By dropping the £350k a week midfielder, Emery has shown that no one has an automatic place in the side.

Arsenal fans and pundits have praised the Spaniard for not giving Ozil the special treatment he often received under Arsene Wenger:

Ramsey and Ozil getting benched. Would be the first names on the teamsheet under AW. Not saying what is Emery is doing is right, but he’s ruthless. Doesn’t care about big names. Its always the team. Having said that, we need to put in a good performance today. 3 points must.

— LTArsenal (@ltarsenal) November 25, 2018

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Hasselbaink on Emery

He has shown that nobody’s place is safe in the starting XI after dropping Ozil

You have to produce and that’s why they are stronger.

That’s why you see a kind of urgency in their game.

And I think he is trying to give Ozil at times a kick under the bum. pic.twitter.com/QMIA8IO321

— ARSENAL (@tomgunner14) November 26, 2018

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However, some Ozil fans have criticized Emery’s decision to drop the 2014 World Cup winner:

That is because Emery seems to favour braindead workhorses who will follow a script. He had the same problem with Neymar at PSG and now with Ozil at Arsenal. 11 tactical workhorses is small club mentality and will get you only too far

— llll (@MssBrunette) November 28, 2018

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When it comes to comparisons, de Jong is already drawing the plaudits. Some liken him to a modern Franz Beckenbauer, others see Frank Rijkaard and Xavi pointed out a likeness to Sergio Busquets.

His athleticism, confidence in possession, passing ability and versatility in central midfield have really caught the eye and earned him a starting place for both club and country.

A number of European clubs have been linked to the 21-year-old over the last few seasons but Manchester City look poised to secure his signature in January as Fernandinho’s long-term replacement.

A special talent in the making

De Jong’s passing ability is one element of his game that really stands out.

He frequently dissects the defensive lines with incisive through balls and his intelligent one-touch passing helps Ajax flourish in possession.

In the Eredivisie 2018/19, the dynamic midfielder has played 841 minutes, averages 75.5 passes per game and still manages a 91.8% pass completion rate – second only to Matthijs de Ligt’s 92.8% (who’s played 239 more minutes).

Although he is yet to register an assist for Ajax this season, he is often used slightly deeper to build phases and help the attacking threats of Dusan Tadic, Hakim Zayech and David Neres supply the strikers.

His confidence on the ball is another key attribute and helps his team breakdown a defensive press. When receiving the ball in deeper areas, he carries forward to draw defenders in – creating more space for the receiver – and then uses his intricate passes to find the team mate in a more advanced position.

After impressing for the Dutch national team in the most recent UEFA Nations League fixtures against France and Germany, fellow countryman Georginio Wijnaldum came in with high praise for the youngster.

“With his dribbles he always ensures there is a good connection from defence to midfield and from midfield to attack” Wijnaldum told Voetbal International.

“He is always able to create space because he is a) always available and b) with his actions he creates many situations: he forces opponents to choose, they have to come out of position, lose their marker, which can automatically make space or give us a free man.”

On top of this, he has a quick turn of pace and his close control makes him a difficult player to dispossess and he often glides past opposition players as if they are running in treacle.

In 19 appearances across all competitions this season, both domestically and internationally, he has attempted 1.3 dribbles per game and is fouled 1.4 times on average – showing his ability to draw fouls with his good footwork and skills in tight spaces.

On the defensive side, de Jong’s tackling, positioning and discipline help set him apart from other midfielders in his age category.

He averages 1.4 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game and has only received one yellow card in 1454 minutes of football – a rare talent for someone so young.

The Netherlands’ recent UEFA Nations League clash against France, in particular, propelled de Jong into the limelight and showed the world that this young midfielder should be taken seriously.

Check out 0:36 as he channels his inner-N’Golo Kante by dispossessing the little maestro himself with a fine tackle.

Room for improvement

Ajax’s style of play in recent years has been focused around being safe in possession with simple two-touch passing to try and unlock the opposition.

A bit of a maverick in his youth, de Jong even admitted that he wanted to express his own style when playing which meant more risks when beating players and trying to play the champagne pass.

“My quality is my intuition. I can’t just ignore that, can I? Then I’d be a player of whom there are a thousand of my age. Often I’d say I understood the coach, then do my own thing on the field,” he said in an interview with Voetbal International.

Despite being given licence to express himself under new Ajax coach Erik ten Hag, de Jong sometimes gets caught in possession in key areas but still ranks very low compared to his team mates with an average dispossession of 0.6 times per game.

The other part of his game that needs improving is his contributions in attack. To become a true world class box-to-box midfielder in future years, he must add goals and assists to his tally.

He has just hit 50 career senior appearances in competitive fixtures across the board and in 3251 minutes has only scored two goals and provided eight assists. Still in the early stages, he has time on his side to develop and unlock the attacking elements which will help him go down in Oranje folklore.

De Jong’s journey

A product of Willem II’s academy, de Jong made his senior debut at 17 years old against ADO Den Haag but only made one more senior appearance in his two-year spell at the club.

His €300,000 transfer to Dutch giants Ajax in 2015/16 signalled a new era for the hot prospect and his impressive performances in the Jong Ajax side – contributing six goals and eight assists in 31 appearances – quickly caught former first team coach Peter Bosz’s attention.

Bosz tested the young prodigy in both central midfield and a less-favoured central defensive role but he was limited to cameos off the bench in the Eredivisie and Europa League.

However, when former FC Utrecht boss ten Hag replaced the sacked Marcel Keizer as head coach in 2017/18, de Jong seized his opportunity to impress and his dynamic ability moved him up the first team pecking order – making 22 league appearances and providing eight assists that season.

In 2018/19, the flying Dutchman is now one of the first names on the team sheet and his dazzling club performances were rewarded with an international call-up from Ronald Koeman.

De Jong got his debut as a half-time substitute in a friendly against Peru and showcased his talent in front of 40,000 Dutch fans in his home stadium, Johan Cruyff ArenA, by assisting the equaliser and helping his side win 2-1.

Since that fateful day in September, the midfielder has earned his place in the starting XI for all UEFA Nations League games in a Dutch side that qualified for the semi-finals ahead of Germany and France.

Did you know: Frenkie de Jong was named after Liverpudlian band Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

The post Frenkie de Jong scout report: Why Dutch sensation is making waves in Europe appeared first on SportMargin.

Pogba has already been the subject of a bid from Barcelona not long ago. Reports claimed that they offered United £40million plus Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes but the bid was rejected immediately by Manchester United.

Speaking after Barca’s victory over Alaves at the weekend, Amor was quite guarded when asked about Pogba.

“We have a good squad now in order to face our objectives, we don’t know what will happen but we have a strong squad.”

Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola has been pushing for a move to the Nou Camp for his client. However, any fresh approach is also likely to be rejected by United.

The post Barca director not ruling out move for Man Utd midfielder Pogba appeared first on SportMargin.

There are still around ten days left in the Spanish transfer window and AS newspaper has reported that 27-year-old Rodrigo is a prime candidate for a move to Real Madrid. A bid of just under £63million could find its way to Valencia in the coming days and most likely succeed.

Rodrigo got on the scoresheet on Monday night as Valencia secured a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid. But they are likely to resist any move for one of their star players. The side are in the Champions League for the first time since their 2015-16 campaign and are unlikely to have a replacement lined up.

Rodrigo’s release clause stands at £107.8million.

The post Real Madrid could make a move for the Valencia striker Rodrigo Moreno appeared first on SportMargin.