Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels Mesut Ozil’s talent is going to waste after being frozen out at the Emirates.
The 31-year-old has not played since the beginning of lockdown back in March, despite being available for selection, and Wenger is disappointed that the Gunners are not making better use of a very talented player:
“I feel it is a waste for him. Firstly because he’s in the years where a player of his talent can produce the most. And it’s a waste for the club as well because he’s a super talent, a creative talent that in the final third can create that killer pass.”
“The way football is going at the moment it’s quick counter-pressing, quick transitions and everybody plays the same. It’s kicked out players like Ozil. Although let’s not forget who this guy is. A world champion who has played at Real Madrid.”
Wenger does point out one of the reasons why manager Mikel Arteta is not using him. Ozil is very much a ‘luxury player’ who is not particularly adept at tracking back or playing his part in a high pressing system.
However, there are believed to be a number of other factors that have led to the German being sidelined by Arteta. The club have been trying to get his sizeable wages off the books for a while and recent reports have suggested that the player turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia. It appears his final season at the club will be spent in the stands before he departs on a free transfer next year.