MESUT OZIL IS “deeply disappointed” to be axed from Arsenal’s Premier League squad and insists his loyalty to the club has not been reciprocated.
The 32-year-old is the highest-paid player in Arsenal’s history but has now been omitted from both the Premier League and Europa League squads.
Ozil has not played a single minute for the Gunners since 7 March, having initially been a mainstay of the team following Mikel Arteta’s appointment last year.
“This is a difficult message to write to the Arsenal fans that I’ve played for over the past few years,” he wrote in a statement posted on social media.
“I’m really deeply disappointed by the fact that I have not been registered for the Premier League season for the time being.”
He signed his current deal, which expires next year, in January 2018 – the same time Alexis Sanchez departed for Manchester United.
“Upon signing my new contract in 2018, I pledged my loyalty and allegiance to the club that I love, Arsenal, and it saddens me that this has not been reciprocated,” he added.
I pledged my loyalty and allegiance to the club that I love, Arsenal, and it saddens me that this has not been reciprocated.
“As I have just found out, loyalty is hard to come by nowadays. I’ve always tried to remain positive from week to week that there’s maybe a chance to get back in the squad soon again. That’s why I kept silent so far.”
Before the Covid-19 outbreak caused the season to be halted, Ozil had started every Premier League game since Mikel Arteta’s appointment as head coach in December.
He has not been included a matchday squad since and – alongside Greece defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos who was also left out of both squads – Ozil will only be able to represent Arsenal U23s until 2021 at the earliest.
The PA news agency understands Ozil was one of three players who refused to take a pay cut earlier in the year, while the club also distanced themselves from a social media post made by Ozil in December which denounced the treatment of Uyghurs in China.
Before the Coronavirus break I was really happy with the development under our new coach Mikel Arteta – we’ve been on a positive way and I would say my performances were on a really good level,” the statement continued.
“But then things changed, again, and I was no longer allowed to play football for Arsenal.
“What else can I say? London still feels like home, I still have many good friends in this team, and I still feel a strong connection with the fans of this club.
“No matter what, I will keep fighting for my chance and not let my 8th season at Arsenal end like this.
“I can promise you that this hard decision won’t change anything in my mindset – I will continue to train as best as I can and wherever possible use my voice against inhumanity and for justice.”
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The 350k a week should ease the pain ever so slightly!!
@jay bernard: 7 highest paid in the world too.
@jay bernard: im sure it softens the blow but he seems genuinely saddened at not playing. Plenty wouldn’t give a toss
@Brian Dunne: I’m thinking the same , and he’s been good to the staff too. I don’t understand it , is he just pure lazy , dodgy attitude because let’s face it he has the skills to walk into most teams and he doesn’t come across as a disruptor.
@King B: bizarre from arsenal. They are often talked about as a well run club but this one is baffling
@King B: he’s being punished for his comments about China, and Arteta hasn’t the balls to take a stand against the club.
@The Bloody Nine: What did he say about China? He had some issue a couple of years ago with political statements about turkey? I could be wrong
@Darren Lambe: he criticised their treatment of Muslims. Millions of them have allegedly been forced into prison camps, and China responded by pulling an Arsenal game from TV.
@The Bloody Nine: Seems very harsh. He was never the most hardworking player but there is no denying his quality.
@Darren Lambe: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/21/mesut-ozil-playmaker-who-spoke-out-arsenal
This article covers what happened. He has played since the comments but it certainly doesn’t add up that Artera would suddenly exclude him completely from the squad, especially as you said, there is no denying his quality.
@The Bloody Nine: A good read. Makes sense as to why arsenal can afford to isolate him on 350k a week, by playing him it could cost them a lot more than that in lost revenue!
@Darren Lambe: that’s how it looks to me anyway. His wages are constantly being mentioned as well which is definitely a tactic by the club to blacken his name and alienate him from the fans.
It’s a funny position for Arsenal to take. He’s losing value by not being showcased, costing a fortune on a weekly basis and he’d surely add something to the side even if it’s only off the bench.
I feel for him, while it is ofcourse a huge amount of money to be on, he still must miss the big stage and to be performing at the highest level where ultumately he belongs. Missed chances and unfulfilled dreams are hard to take.
He chose money over football. He could of joined someone else still earned great money and enjoyed his last few years at the top level. Everyone knew Arsenal wanted rid. Loyalty???
Most overrated player in world football
@Alan Brennan: No.
@Alright Alright Alright: yes 100%
@Alright Alright Alright: well him and Ronaldo
On crazy money, would hear of taking a pay cut, refused to attend zoom meetings and likely has a stink attitude.
@Al Byrne: As I understand it he refused the pay cut because he outright told the board he didn’t believe them when they said: if players took BBC a pay cut admin staff wouldn’t be axed. Most players took the cut (although others didn’t), and get the club still tried to axe 50 staff. So he was maybe right to call their bull. The wage is irrelevant anyway. They granted it to him 4 years, and they’ve spent millions since on transfers and wages. His wages aren’t stymying progress at the club. It’s weird that people seem animated by his wages — as if he was crippling the club, and as if it was coming out of those dissenters’ own pockets.
@Fergal O’ Reilly: ignore the “BBC” bit. Mad oul predictive text :p
Derby will take him.
How can he represent the U23s if he is 32?
@Fellainis Fro: you are allowed a few older pros. It’s more or less the reserve team nowadays
Erdogan’s stooge