Sports
Mesut Ozil set for first game at Newcastle since joining Arsenal five years ago under New coach Unai Emery
Mesut Ozil will play his first game at Newcastle this weekend over five years after joining Arsenal — with Unai Emery expecting an extra-special performance from his star midfielder.
Despite joining in summer 2013, playmaker Ozil has never played at St James’ Park because of a mixture of his injuries, being rested and the Magpies spending the 2016-17 season in the Championship.
But new Gunners boss Emery believes he will be all the sharper for a two-week rest, having quit playing for Germany following this summer’s World Cup.
Emery said: “The players are used to playing in the international break, in important matches. So if they stop doing that, I think it is good for them to focus only on their club. For Mesut, it was important to focus every day with us, as well as having a relaxing three days off last weekend.
“The reason we are working with our players is to ensure they arrive in Newcastle in the best condition. That’s the same for Mesut.
“He is working well. He is OK. When I look at him I can see his focus is totally here. We get on very well. I have a very good relationship with him and professionally I push Mesut to improve, so he can play at his best on the pitch.”
Ozil has been in the spotlight after a stop-start beginning to Emery’s debut season, but the £350,000-a-week star is under pressure to start delivering.
The former Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain boss is in no doubt the German can either play in the No.10 role or do a job out wide.
“In his career, he played like a No.10 and on the right, coming in. Here he has played both,” said Emery.
“Mesut is very convinced about that in my conversations with him. I usually give players the position they feel best in. Mesut can play these two positions. I want to give him the opportunity to do his best, to make decisive passes, to do more in and around the opposition box, and to score.
“He is feeling like I am feeling. He can improve, he can do more. In this process, we will work, we will help him, we will give him the chance to show his quality in matches.”
Emery admitted he does not know whether chief executive Ivan Gazidis is leaving to join AC Milan, having been made a big-money offer to join the Italian giants.
“First of all, every conversation with him is speaking about us and about our work here every day. I don’t know any other news from him,” said Emery, who was appointed by Gazidis this summer.
“Every conversation with me is about Arsenal. About our performance. About our ideas. Our process. We did not speak about his future. That’s a question for him.”
Real Madrid produced a spectacular comeback against Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final with Joselu striking twice late on, earning them a 2-1 win on Wednesday to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Alphonso Davies smashed the visiting German giants ahead in the second half but record 14-time winners Madrid produced a sensational comeback with Joselu netting in the 88th and 91st minutes.
Bayern Munich’s Canadian midfielder #19 Alphonso Davies scores his team’s first goal in spite of Real Madrid’s Ukrainian goalkeeper #13 Andriy Lunin during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Spanish champions Real Madrid face another German side, Borussia Dortmund, in the Wembley final on June 1, after they stunned the team they call their “black beast”.
Squad player Joselu, on as a late substitute, wrote his name in Madrid’s history books with his last-gasp brace.
Bayern Munich’s English forward #09 Harry Kane reacts to their defeat after the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
“There have been a lot of times we have looked dead and buried, but we have that mentality of never say die,” said Real midfielder Jude Bellingham.
“Joselu deserves it all, he has been an amazing squad member this season.”
Madrid had enjoyed the better of the match but it seemed Davies’ superb strike had set up a repeat of the 2013 all-German final in London.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel made three changes from the first leg, benching veteran Thomas Mueller and Leon Goretzka.
Dani Carvajal started for Madrid after missing the first leg suspended and was heavily involved as the hosts dominated the opening stages.
Real Madrid players celebrate their second goal scored by Real Madrid’s Spanish forward #14 Joselu during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Rodrygo Goes was inches away from converting Carvajal’s low cross and the Spain defender then cleverly set up Vinicius Junior with a pass nutmegging a defender, and Manuel Neuer tipped the Brazilian’s shot against the post.
The rebound fell to Rodrygo but his effort was weak and with a desperate arm Neuer was able to claw it out to complete a fine double save.
Bayern’s Serge Gnabry limped off injured with Davies replacing him before Harry Kane’s first flash of danger.
Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was alert to push the England captain’s vicious long-range volley around the post.
Neuer palmed away a Vinicius free-kick as the teams ended a high-intensity, relentlessly frantic first half level.
The second period was just as fraught, with Davies’ cross deflecting onto the roof of Lunin’s goal.
Vinicius was unplayable down Madrid’s left and Rodrygo prodded his low cross agonisingly wide of the far post.
The 38-year-old Neuer made superb saves to deny both Brazilian forwards again before the hour mark as Madrid controlled the game and ratcheted up the pressure.
However just as in Munich, when Los Blancos were at their strongest, Bayern pounced.
Kane fed Davies and the Canada international cut inside from the left and smashed a shot beyond Lunin into the far top corner after 68 minutes.
Madrid thought they had levelled moments later through Nacho but after a VAR review the strike was ruled out as the defender had grabbed Joshua Kimmich’s face before shooting.
Tuchel took off Kane in the final stages to try and hold on to victory but it slipped through his fingers as Madrid produced more indelible European memories.
Neuer, who had been sublime to this point, fumbled what appeared a simple Vinicius strike and Joselu gratefully bundled home from close range.
With Bayern reeling Madrid struck again, decisively. It was Joselu once more, the striker on loan from second division side Espanyol, turning home after Antonio Rudiger cut the ball back to him.
The goal was ruled offside but officials overturned the decision after review, and after nearly 15 minutes of stoppage time, Madrid earned the chance to go for their 15th Champions League trophy.
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