Arteta drops a hint over Ozil's Arsenal future

The Gunners playmaker has been absent throughout the entire season, but he may have a role left to play just yet.

Mikel Arteta has left the door open for a January return to the Arsenal squad for Mesut Ozil in the second half of the 2020/21 campaign.

The Gunners boss appeared to close the book on Ozil’s career in north London earlier in the season by excluding him from the club’s Premier League and Europa League teams. But, as his contract enters its last six months, he may get a chance to end his seven-year stay on a high.

The last time Mesut Özil faced Burnley at the Emirates in the Premier League pic.twitter.com/iMEv4rJTRR

— MÖS (@MesutOzilStats) December 13, 2020

“He’s not in the squad right now,” confirmed Arteta as quoted by Goal.

“I’m focusing just on the players we have here.

“But, whatever happens in January, we have some time to decide.”

While Ozil hasn’t played for Arsenal since March, he has kept active on social media and publicly offered to pay the wages for the club’s mascot, Gunnersaurus, after he was fired as part of cost-cutting measures from COVID-19.

For now, though, Arsenal’s focus will be on ending a three-match losing run at home in the Premier League in Sunday’s clash with Burnley.