Arsenal’s German trio in need of the extended rest
After a grueling 2013/2014 campaign was capped off with their 3-2 win over Hull City in the FA Cup final, Arsenal’s German triumvirate set off to Brazil with the hope of bringing their nation it’ fourth World Cup trophy.
Naturally you all know the result of that, but the after effects of their long and arduous campaign in the land of the Amazon is what has many Arsenal supporters divided. While there is no question of the level of importance that Mesut Ozil, Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker have in the first-team at the Emirates, is it really worth risking their fitness?
When the season comes to a conclusion in May, players immediately go on holiday until the first week of July when pre-season begins in earnest; that’s roughly two months off from all footballing matters (apart from the odd daily jog or two). Such a break does wonders to help a footballer recharge his batteries in preparation for another ten month campaign – it was a break that Arsenal’s German’s did not receive.
Podolski and Ozil will be hoping for a bit more respite after their successful campaign in Brazil – not only have they earned it, but it’ll keep them fit.
Once the FA Cup victory was sealed, Ozil, Podolski and Mertesacker joined up with the German squad for their preparations for the World Cup. Countless air miles logged, daily training sessions and seven matches later put them in mid-July on their calendar, just a month away from the 2014/2015 Premier League campaign. A further look at Arsenal’s fixture list should lend weight to the notion that confirmation by Arsene Wenger that they will miss the first league fixture (against Crystal Palace) and the Community Shield against Manchester City (not really a trophy of note), should be supported rather than debated over.
As it stands, Die drei Freunde will only have one month off rather than the usual two, and given the yearly injury concerns that plague Arsenal’s season, it is crucial that they receive at least a little time off from football. With Theo Walcott already out till October, it is vital that Ozil remain fit, especially with the future of Santi Cazorla also being in doubt at current.
Per Mertesacker is only one of three center-backs who make the grade for first-team duty – his added rest is a must.
Arsenal’s limited options at center-back mean Mertesacker must be treated with caution, and as for Podolski, he is one of a select few who can play on the left wing, and the only other player at the club that has seen significant time in his career at striker.
It is understandable that supporters may feel a bit frustrated when the club will not be able to hit the ground running with their preferred starting XI, but statements such as “Are you kidding me? These guys are on 100k/week wages, they need to just suck it up” really make it seem like they are not taking into account how football actually works. One month off after eleven months of football is the difference between fresh legs and tired legs that become more susceptible to the injury bug.
To be honest, I’d rather have the three of them miss the Community Shield and Crystal Palace at the Emirates than see all three of them on the treatment table. Sometimes its important to remember that, unlike in FIFA 14 when you have a fully green status bar signaling they are fully rested, that football in real life is far more than that.