Mesut Ozil’s days at Arsenal could be numbered, according to Liverpool legend Phil Thompson.
The German international has struggled to force his way into new manager Unai Emery’s affections and has not featured for the Gunners since November 11th, missing both the north London derby and Arsenal’s trip to Old Trafford in midweek with a supposed back complaint.
The Gunners’ success in those fixtures has led Sky pundit Thompson to believe that the 30-year-old senior player could be forced out of the club.
Speaking on Super Soccer Saturday (Sky Sports News, Saturday December 8th), Thompson was asked if he saw Ozil leaving the Emirates in the near future.
He said: “I would think so. I think we’ve had this conversation before. I think Ozil, big German international, won so many things, played for Real Madrid, he won’t want to be playing in these lesser games and I think that’s what it’s coming down to.
“In these big games they’ve shown what they need, and he [Emery] knows what he needs and that doesn’t include Mesut Ozil.
“I’m afraid I think those days are gone and it might be. How you get such a person on such a salary out of a football club is going to be very very difficult, but I do see this present Arsenal going forward without him in the side.”
OPINION
Given how influential he is capable of being, and how much he has been lauded in recent years as the creative master of Arsenal’s side, it is fairly odd to imagine Mesut Ozil being phased out of Unai Emery’s plans. The recent performances against Tottenham and Manchester United, however, have proven that the Gunners are more than capable of impressing against the big clubs without him in the team. Emery seems to be more concerned with creating a side rather than appeasing individuals, and if he believes Ozil is surplus to requirements then its difficult to see a way back for the German. The biggest issue could be shifting a player with such a substantial wage packet, but presumably there would be no shortage of suitors should he be allowed to leave. There is no way that a player of his talent will be content with a bit-part role, and surely he will push a for a move if things don’t change quickly.