At an interview for talkSPORT, Martin Keown expressed his opinion about Arsenal’s forgotten star for the greater good.
Martin Keown shut down Mesut Ozil’s attitude with the club. Subsequently, he urged that the Arsenal outcast “needs to fall in line”.
The former Germany international arrived at Emirates from Real Madrid in 2019. Consequently, Ozil scored 44 goals along with 77 assists for the Gunners in 254 outings.
Ozil acted as a prominent figure under the rule of Arsene Wenger. Though, he did not succeed in the squad under Unai Emery. The Spaniard asked questions about Ozil’s fitness and defensive duties.
In any case, Emery left Arsenal in November 2019 after 18 long months with the club. Then came Mikel Arteta, as a replacement just after a month. Evidently, the former Arsenal man used Ozil at the beginning of his reign.
The 31-year-old played consistent games for Arsenal until the lockdown due to the virus. Although, he did not find himself in Arteta’s squad after football restarted.
Surprisingly, Ozil still remains out of the roster for the 2020-21 season. He now enters his final year of the agreement with Arsenal.
What is the better solution?
The former Real Madrid player is one of the highest earners at Emirates despite expulsion from the teamsheet.
Hence, Keown thinks that Ozil is creating an unhealthy surrounding for the club.
“One assumes that Arteta would’ve given him an opportunity and he’s not really happy with Ozil’s work ethic,” the Gunners legend told talkSPORT. “He’s not someone the others can learn off.
“I actually think he’s got a good heart, because of what he does for charity, but when he questions giving up a percentage of his wage which affects everyone else, I don’t think it’s his place to do that. He needs to fall in line.
“If you think of the money it’s costing Arsenal… £18million-a-year, that the equivalent of the interest payments when they took out a loan on the Emirates Stadium. That’s how restrictive that has been.
“They need to cut their losses and pay him off. It sends a message to the group, creates a new culture, and allows them to move on because at the moment it’s become unhealthy.”
Ozil did not make it in the Europa League squad on Thursday. And, Keown mentions that it will help both the club and the player if he leaves.
“Nobody will be happy with this, nobody wants to see the back of Ozil,” he added. “We want him to play football, but right now the best option for everyone is for him to leave and go quietly.
“He can be fantastic somewhere else. He needs to look at himself right now and I don’t think he is. It’s that oxygen when you play, you can breathe when you play and he can’t breathe at the moment.
“Isn’t there enough money in the bank now? It’s a short career and he’ll look back thinking he was denied the opportunity to play, but he hasn’t played his part to change that.”
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