Despite being visibly disappointed after getting knocked out of the Champions League, Arsenala s Mesut Ozil was inclined to look at the positives from the win against Monaco.
a We dominated the whole game there and gave everything. We couldna t find that last goal but we can be proud of ourselves,a Ozil said.
a We knew that Monaco would make it difficult for us by playing defensively. We dealt with that very well and created a number of opportunities, that we unfortunately didna t convert.
a Wea ve got lots of important games coming up, especially in the FA Cup, where wea re in the semi-finals again.
a In the Premier League everything is possible and we have to look forward now. We have important games in front of us that we want to be successful in.a
Ozil had earlier addressed talk of him swapping shirts with Kondogbia at the half time interval.
a Geoffrey Kondogbia asked me for my shirt and I wanted to do him a favour,a Ozil said.
a Maybe I should have given him the shirt in the tunnel, but seriously guys, is there nothing more important to discuss for a knockout game than a shirt swap?a
Now that the Champions League is out of the way, Arsenal and Mesut Ozil have only two competitions to concentrate on, with the FA Cup being the most credible chance to win a trophy for the second season in a row. With Reading in the semifinals and potentially Liverpool in the finals, Arsenal definitely have a shot at making sure that they do not forget the taste of winning silverware.
Their Premier League chances are much bleaker, with Chelsea almost too far ahead to catch, but Ozil would definitely be looking at ensuring that Arsenal at least finishes 2nd in the league, which would be a considerable improvement over last seasona s FA Cup win and 4th place finish.
If Arsenal can do that, then they will certainly be able to push on from there, and probably even challenge for the title next season, provided they make one or two more signings. Whether that is the case or not, Mesut Ozil is certainly going to play a key role in this season and the next, and provided he stays, a few more seasons to come.