Arsenal supporters have leapt to the defence of Mesut Ozil after he broke his silence on being left out of the club’s Premier League squad.
In a statement on social media, Ozil slammed the club’s lack of ‘loyalty’ and said he was left ‘saddened’ by his exclusion from Mikel Arteta’s 25-man group – but insisted he still loved the club and promised he would continue to fight for his place.
The German, who earns £350,000 at the Emirates, is facing increasing doubt over his future at the club, with the playmaker set to be without any regular football until at least January. He has now garnered support from fans who have hit out at his ‘disgraceful’ treatment.
Mesut Ozil has been backed by Arsenal fans after he was excluded from their domestic squad
Replying to Ozil’s statement, one fan said: ‘The way they are treating you is a disgrace, the greatest player of the Emirates Era who joined us, stuck by us and loved this club during its hardest period.’
Another supporter claimed that former players Petr Cech and Danny Welbeck were given better send-offs by the club despite not having a strong affinity with the Arsenal faithful.
One said he was ‘a man of character I inspire to be with the way he goes about his life’, adding: ‘He’s a loyal man and a just one too.’
His absence was also described as ‘a massive waste of resources’, as a supporter called the situation ‘a massive shame.
‘It’s a massive waste of resource not to have Mesut Ozil available to Mikel Arteta. Whether it’s financial, political or down to performances, it just feels like a massive shame and waste for all involved. There’s games where he can make a difference.’
And Arsenal’s actions were described as ‘morally wrong’ by another fan, who stressed that Ozil’s quality is more than good enough to warrant inclusion.
‘Even if Ozil has declined as a player, he’s more than good enough to make squads. I believe him being left out is mainly to do with rejecting the pay-cut (which he was justified in doing) above everything else. I’m of the view Arsenal were morally wrong to do what we did.’
Fans have stressed that Ozil still has enough quality to help the team in the Premier League
Gary Lineker has sympathised with Ozil, saying it will be ‘soul destroying’ to be excluded
Former England striker Gary Lineker also waded into the debate, insisting that regardless of the 32-year-old’s eye-watering salary, being excluded from a squad is difficult for any player to take.
‘Every footballer wants to play,’ he said in a tweet. ‘Not being able to, regardless of salary, is soul destroying.’
He also received some words of comfort from his former Germany team-mate Jerome Boateng, who encouraged him to stay positive despite his exile.
‘Chin up bro, I’m 100% sure you will show everyone what you got soon again!’ he said, using the hashtag #NotDoneYet.
In his heartfelt message on social media, Ozil said he was ‘deeply disappointed’ at being left out of Arteta’s plans completely and claimed his hard work for the club was not being reciprocated.
Ozil said he still loves the club even though he faces no regular action until at least January
‘This is a difficult message to write to the @Arsenal fans that I’ve played for over the past few years,’ he wrote. ‘I’m really deeply disappointed by the fact that I have not been registered for the @PremierLeague season for the time being.
‘Upon signing my new contract in 2018, I pledged my loyalty and allegiance to the club that I love, Arsenal, and it saddens me that this has not been reciprocated. As I have just found out, loyalty is hard to come by nowadays.
‘I’ve always tried to remain positive from week to week that there’s maybe a chance to get back in the squad soon again. That’s why I kept silent so far.’
‘No matter what, I will keep fighting for my chance and not let my 8th season at Arsenal end like this. I can promise you that this hard decision won’t change anything in my mindset – I will continue to train as best as I can and wherever possible use my voice against inhumanity and for justice.’
He has not played a game for the Gunners since before the coronavirus outbreak in March
Ozil, who has played 254 times for the Gunners across his seven-year spell and won three trophies, was also left out of Arteta’s Europa League squad – leaving him without any platform to impress. He has faced increasing uncertainty at the club this year, with fans and pundits claiming the former Real Madrid playmaker’s time in north London was coming to an end.
He came under fire during lockdown for refusing to take a pay-cut on his eye-watering salary, before offering to pay the wages of club mascot Gunnersaurus – a gesture which club icon Paul Merson said made Arsenal look ‘stupid’.
Legendary former manager Arsene Wenger, who brought Ozil to the club for a then-club record £42.5million in 2013, has regularly defended the star and recently claimed Arteta was ‘wasting’ his talent by leaving him on the bench.
‘I feel it is a waste for him,’ Wenger told the BBC. ‘Firstly because he’s in the years where a player of his talent can produce the most. Let’s not forget who this guy is. A world champion who has played at Real Madrid.’