2017 Arsenal Home – Mesut Ozil #11 XL

The 2016/17 season was a rollercoaster campaign for Arsenal Football Club, filled with individual brilliance, fan frustration, and a bittersweet ending that brought silverware but also heartbreak in the league.

• Premier League:

  • Arsenal finished 5th, ending Arsène Wenger’s record streak of 20 consecutive top-four finishes and missing out on the Champions League for the first time since 1997.

  • The team finished with 75 points, just one point behind Liverpool.

• FA Cup:

  • Arsenal won the 2017 FA Cup, defeating Chelsea 2–1 in the final.

  • Goals from Alexis Sánchez and Aaron Ramsey delivered Wenger’s 7th FA Cup, the most by any manager in history.

• Champions League:

  • Advanced from the group stage but were knocked out by Bayern Munich in the Round of 16 after a brutal 10–2 aggregate defeat (1–5 both home and away).

• Key Storyline:

  • The season was defined by uncertainty around Wenger’s future, Alexis Sánchez’s form, and Mesut Özil’s creative brilliance amidst growing pressure.

  • The shift to a 3–4–3 formation late in the season stabilized performances, leading to the FA Cup triumph.

• Kit: The 2016/17 Arsenal home jersey, made by Puma, featured the club’s traditional red body with white sleeves, but with a darker, more classic red tone and a thin navy stripe down the center — a clean, sharp design linked to Özil’s prime years at the Emirates.

2. Player’s Impact – Mesut Özil (2016/17)

Mesut Özil was one of Arsenal’s most influential players during the 2016/17 season, orchestrating the team’s attack with creativity and precision.

• Appearances: 44 in all competitions.

• Statistics: 12 goals and 14 assists, including 8 assists in the Premier League.

• Key Moments:

  • Scored a stunning solo goal against Ludogorets in the Champions League — one of the best goals of his career.

  • Consistently provided chances for Alexis Sánchez and Olivier Giroud.

  • Scored crucial goals in Premier League wins over Stoke City and West Ham.

• Role: Played as the central attacking midfielder (No. 10) in Wenger’s 4–2–3–1, serving as the creative heartbeat of the team. His vision, first touch, and weight of pass were unmatched.

• Legacy: This season represented the tail end of Özil’s prime, where he remained among Europe’s top creators. Despite the team’s inconsistency, Özil’s elegance and technical mastery made him Arsenal’s main playmaker and a fan favorite.

3. Full Squad List – Arsenal 2016/17

Manager: Arsène Wenger

Goalkeepers:

• Petr Čech

• David Ospina

• Emiliano Martínez

Defenders:

• Laurent Koscielny (Captain)

• Shkodran Mustafi

• Nacho Monreal

• Héctor Bellerín

• Gabriel Paulista

• Rob Holding

• Per Mertesacker

• Kieran Gibbs

• Carl Jenkinson

• Mathieu Debuchy

Midfielders:

• Mesut Özil

• Alexis Sánchez

• Aaron Ramsey

• Granit Xhaka

• Francis Coquelin

• Santi Cazorla

• Mohamed Elneny

• Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

• Jack Wilshere (on loan to Bournemouth)

Forwards:

• Olivier Giroud

• Danny Welbeck

• Theo Walcott

• Alex Iwobi

• Lucas Pérez