Mesut Ozil is firing back

The saga of Mesut Ozil continues, and now the former German international and World Cup winner is firing back.
For me, it’s been astonishing to watch how Ozil has fallen out of grace with his manager and Arsenal supporters over the past year.
Once the Gunners “go to” magician in the midfield, the 31-year-old midfielder didn’t play even one minute once the season rebooted in June. In fact, he wasn’t even named on the team sheet for many of those games, including the FA Cup Final!

Now, I will be the first to admit I’m no football genius, however, I do have an opinion, and my opinion is this.

Mesut Ozil is not the type of player that fits Mikel Arteta’s system. Arteta wants players who attack the ball, regain possession of the ball and press high up the pitch. That’s not in Ozil’s DNA. Period.

However, Ozil has a pretty good history as being one the best playmakers in the world, and we need a playmaker who can create chances in the middle of the pitch and on the fringes of the box. When Ozil is on his game, not many do it better than him.

With that said, rumors have been flying that Arsenal wants to buy him out, transfer him, or put him in exile with Matteo Gunedouzi (just kidding).
And of course, there’s the much publicized report that, unlike his Arsenal teammates, he refused to take a pay cut during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

So, in a rare interview, Ozil has spoken to The Athletic and had a few comments worth repeating…

“As players, we all wanted to contribute. But we needed more information and many questions were unanswered.

“Everyone was fine with a deferral while there was so much uncertainty. I would have been OK to take a bigger share, and then a cut if required, once the football and financial outlook was clearer. But we were rushed into it without proper consultation.

“For anyone in this situation, you have a right to know everything, to understand why it is happening and where the money is going. But we didn’t get enough details, we just had to give a decision. It was far too quick for something so important and there was a lot of pressure.

“This was not fair, especially for the young guys, and I refused. I had a baby at home and have commitments to my family here, in Turkey and in Germany, to my charities, too, and also a new project we started to support people in London that was from the heart and not for publicity.

“People who know me know exactly how generous I am and, as far as I’m aware, I was not the only player who rejected the cut in the end, but only my name came out.

“I guess that’s because it is me and people have been trying for two years to destroy me, to make me unhappy, to push an agenda they hope will turn the supporters against me and paint a picture that is not true.

“Possibly the decision affected my chances on the pitch, I don’t know. But I’m not afraid to stand up for what I feel is right, and when you see what has happened now with the jobs, maybe I was.”

He also discussed his future with the team…

“My position is clear. I’m here through to the last day of our agreement and I’ll give everything I have for this club. Situations like this will never break me, they only make me stronger. I showed in the past that I can come back into the team and I will show it again. People have been trying for two years to destroy me, to make me unhappy, to push an agenda they hope will turn the supporters against me and paint a picture that is not true.”

Mesut Ozil has every right to voice his opinions, to take a stance and to see out his contract through next summer. It’s obvious Mike Arteta does not include Ozil in his rebuilding plans, plus the bigger issue is his tremendously enormous weekly wage of $458,000 (USD).

So, why does he want to stay at Arsenal if he doesn’t play? The money, on principle, or does he really want to fight for a place on Arteta’s squad?
Stand by to stand by.

Cheers, and stay healthy and safe!

Gunner1953