Mikel Arteta’s six Mesut Ozil questions as Arsenal sideshow reaches its climax
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Mesut Ozil’s Arsenal career is all but over.
The German was once more missing from the squad on Wednesday, as a much-changed side defeated Leicester City 2-0 in the Carabao Cup.
A Christian Fuchs own goal and late Eddie Nketiah finish handed the Gunners victory.
But despite making seven changes to the side that beat West Ham at the weekend, boss Mikel Arteta had no place in his 18 for Ozil once more.
These are the kind of games where Ozil in his pomp under Arsene Wenger, would be rested.
Now, he’s unwanted and unrequired.
(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
The World Cup winner has not appeared for the club in any competitive match since before last season was put on hold in March due to the coronavirus crisis.
His last appearance came in a 1-0 win over West Ham on March 7; he was named on the substitutes bench twice after Project Restart, but it is now 17 games since he kicked a ball for the first team.
It is crystal clear that Arsenal ’s future doesn’t involve the former Real Madrid man.
They want his £350k-a-week wages gone, preferably in the next two weeks rather than when his contract expires next summer.
(Image: PA)
Arsenal’s No.10 has never wavered from his position, insisting he still wants to stay and play for the club.
But Arteta can hardly have made his position more clear.
In the East Midlands during his post-match press conference, Arteta declined to discuss Ozil in a personal manner.
(Image: Pool via REUTERS)
Six questions were asked, and the message was clear: the side has evolved, the game is up.
Initially asked what Ozil needs to do to get back into contention, the Spaniard chose not to answer, but rather pivoted towards an answer that he obviously preferred to give: “I’m really happy with the performance here, how difficult they’re making things for the coaching staff to select the squad.”
Subsequently quizzed on why he has fallen out of favour, Arteta promptly responded: “The team is evolving, you can see the level they are achieving. This is where we are at the moment. We want to evolve more and play better and compete better.
“We need to keep maintaining that.”
Translation: We’re past the point where we once relied on him.
(Image: HAYTERS)
Asked whether he believes others are more suited to what he wants, Arteta again responded in generalities: “We are picking the players that we believe are the best for each game.
“You can see we keep training, it’s what we’re trying to do.”
Yes would have likely sufficed.
A couple of questions on Reiss Nelson were forthcoming before it was back to Ozil and whether the side has indeed evolved beyond him.
“You can see that the players we are changing, we are using, it’s very difficult every week not for Mesut but for some other players as well to make the squad.
“Every week we try to pick the right players.”
(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
A fifth question promptly followed, which was more a statement: “If Ozil isn’t involved in this game it’s tough to see him being involved again.”
Arteta responded, now having seemingly had enough of the sidehow that is discussing the club’s discarded No.10: “It’s difficult for others as well that aren’t involved in the Premier League and didn’t play tonight either.
“We have a squad of 26, 27 players at the moment and we can’t give playing time to all of them.”
Which prompted question No.6 on Ozil, with Arteta asked whether he understands why he gets so many questions on his former teammate.
“Of course I understand and I respect your questions but I have to try to do my job as fair as possible. I try to select the players that are, in my opinion, in better condition.”
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Football is indeed a game of opinions.
Unai Emery found that to his cost when the Emirates turned on him and sang Ozil’s name in protest when he was ostracised by Arteta’s predecessor.
However, under the man that has delivered the FA Cup, Community Shield and hope back to the red half of North London since arriving last December, don’t expect such dissent from he stands to be forthcoming any time soon.
For Ozil, barring a scarcely believable U-turn, the game is up.
The only question that remains is whether he sits it out until the bitter end.
Will Mesut Ozil ever play for Arsenal again? Have your say here.
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