Arsenal’s German superstar Mesut Ozil came underfire recently after he botched a penalty. Claims have been ferocious over Ozil’s performance after 180 days since his record £42 million transfer from Real Madrid. Mathieu Flamini was seen giving Ozil a mouthful after he missed a golden opportunity to score against Bayern Munich in their round of 16 tie. Ozil’s reaction says it all. Even Arsenal’s boss Arsene Wenger was quoted to have concern about Ozil’s off form. His off form and the horrible miss are just tip of the iceberg. Mesut needs to overcome his frustration to improve his performance. Here are some unsolicited tips that he can use in order to get back on track and save Arsenal from doom in the Champions League.
Accept things
It is hard to be living too much in the past. It will only create anxiety and stress that could impact performance. Ozil’s botched penalty should be placed in the backburner where it belongs. Top football superstars do suffer from a slump once in a while. This is something that would be considered as a watershed moment in sports. Slump happens as getting into the zone does. It is best for Mesut to focus on the things that he can control rather on the things that he has no power over. Try to accept that a strike can be saved. And it happens to the best.
Move forward
Ozil’s attitude following the botched penalty is impressive. Mesut is perhaps inspired by what happened to Germany teammate and top Bayern Munich striker Bastien Schweinsteiger’s slump. Bastien continued to live forward and let the past remain in the past. Schweinsteiger also had some miscues during the 2012 Champions League final against Chelsea. But, the frustration did not hinder Schweinsteiger to come back and finish the job. He led Bayern Munchen in a scintillating win over Borrusia Dortmund in the finals of the 2013 Champions League in Wembley. It capped the road from adversity towards victory.
Get support
There have been rumors that Ozil’s inability to get going in Arsenal is due to the lack of acceptance among his teammates. Ozil clearly is still adjusting with his new environment. At 25, Ozil feels the pressure being the go-to guy, which is something that is unfamiliar to him at Real Madrid. During his stint in La Liga, he can play second fiddle to the current Balon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo. This is the reason that instead of getting the flak from his teammates, Ozil needs to get the love he deserves. His Germany teammates were quit in defending Mesut. Lukas Podolski threw his support to Ozil in his Twitter account. “Trust in Mesut,” he said.
Go meditate
Take a break and meditate. It would help ease up the pressure that can lead to performance anxiety and break the game. Getting out of rhythm is something that happens even to the best athletes in the world. A break will help your mind to be clearer. Meditation can help Ozil figure out and focus on to the real goal. After all, he got transferred for a tidy sum of money for nothing.
Stop blame
Frustration can make things worse. And it can be worst. Try to find solutions instead of blame. His teammates at Arsenal should know better. They need to solidify their trust on Mesut. He is still human. Everybody makes mistakes. It would just do more harm than good to continue on pressuring him. Understand his situation and learn where Mesut is coming from. Fans and even teammates can be brutal and they can hurt people’s feelings.
Cheer up
If you can no longer change something, it is best to cheer up. There is no point in being angry at something that is already in the past. The best way is to look forward and score two more goals and hope that the defense scores a clean sheet. Away goals are going to send Arsenal and end the reign of Bayern Munich as the Champions League winners.
It will be a tough order for Arsenal to move on to the next stage of the competition. The fixture is set in Munich and the fans there would be expecting nothing but a win for the home side. But, if there is one person that can really deliver the goods it would be Mesut. Trust in Mesut, for he will deliver.
About the Author:
Ryan Rivera loves sports as much as he loves writing. For more interesting readings, you can visit his Calm Clinic Facebook account.
