Ex-Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson says his former club are taking a “big gamble” by omitting Mesut Ozil from their Premier League and Europa League squads.

The German lashed out at the Gunners over his treatment in a statement on social media, with manager Mikel Arteta confirming at his pre-match press conference yesterday that the 32-year-old was not included purely for footballing reasons. However, Merson feels the Spaniard is taking a big risk, considering the talent the player possesses:

“He’s an absolute talent. So, to keep him out of the squad, completely out of the squad, it’s a big gamble by Arsenal. He’s on massive wages, no doubting that. He gets fortunes. I’m surprised, it shocked me. When I was told that he’d been left out of the squad I was shocked if I’m being honest because I am one of his biggest fans.”

“I think when he’s on song, he can play and you’ve got to remember just before lockdown, he was playing. He was playing in Arteta’s team so for him to come back and then not be in the team and not even get a squad place, yeah I’m quite surprised.”

Arteta says he has a clear conscious regarding Ozil’s omission from the squad but Merson does have a good point. Why was the German good enough to play before lockdown but not after?

There seems to be more going on here than meets the eye, and the likeliest explanation is probably that Arsenal are seeking to reduce their wage bill by getting the midfielder off the club’s books before his deal expires next summer.