Ozil arrival ends Arsenal’s austerity era

 

Mesut Ozil
 

Arsene Wenger’s decision to smash Arsenal’s transfer record with a marquee signing brought praise from his threadbare squad and finally signals an end to the austerity years that have resulted in eight trophyless seasons.

The capture of German playmaker Mesut Ozil, signed for £42.5m ($66.15m) from Real Madrid on the final day of the transfer window on Monday, was the biggest fee paid by an English Premier League side in the close season.

“Signing of the summer! Easily! Fantastic player, plays the ‘Arsenal way’. Welcome @MesutOzil1088 absolutely buzzing!,” Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere posted on his Twitter account.

Wenger’s purchase of the 24-year-old finally backs up what his chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, has long been saying; that the 13-times English champions can compete with the billionaire owners of Chelsea and Manchester City in player purchasing.

Ozil’s price is more than double the £15m paid to Zenit St. Petersburg for Russia playmaker Andrey Arshavin in 2009 but whether he alone can bridge the gap on those domestic rivals and succeed Manchester United as Premier League champions this year remains doubtful.

Having built the ‘invincibles’ side that won the Premier League in 2004 and then a 10th FA Cup in 2005, Wenger’s team has slid far from domestic prominence to one that merely battles for fourth.

The cost of building their Emirates Stadium, opened in 2006 and still a significant debt, routinely to blame for a lack of squad investment.