Mesut Ozil says he has no intention of leaving Arsenal this summer, regardless of what’s on offer from the club or elsewhere, and insists that decision must be respected.
In an interview with David Ornstein in The Athletic, the midfielder spoke about his own situation, not being used by Mikel Arteta after the restart, the pay cut implemented on the squad, but Arsenal fans will be most interested in what he has to say about his future.
Admitting there was no injury keeping him out of the manager’s plans, he said he was ready to fight for a place, and made it clear he does not want to leave.
“I’ll decide when I go, not other people,” he said.
“I didn’t sign for two or three years, I signed for four and that should be respected by everyone.
“Things have obviously been difficult but I love Arsenal, I love to work there, I love the people in the club — the real people, those I’ve been with for a long time — and I love London, it’s my home.
“Whatever happened in the last two seasons, I’m happy and very strong mentally. I never give up on anything. I want to help my team and I’ll fight for it. If I’m fit, I know what I can do on the pitch.
“When a player wants to leave and the club says no, the player must accept it unless they find a solution together.
“So when a club wants a player to leave and the player says no, the club must accept it unless a solution can be found together.
“I don’t want to leave, so that’s it.”
READ THE FULL INTERVIEW IN THE ATHLETIC (£)
There’s a lot to unpack in the interview itself, so we’ll let people make up their own minds.
What’s very clear though is that while this is good PR for Mesut’s public image, it’s not good for Arsenal, for Mikel Arteta, for the squad of players who had to go through the end of the season without him, or for supporters.
Even the biggest Ozil fans must see that the situation overall is unhealthy for all concerned, so perhaps this might push both sides (club and player) into finding a resolution so we can all move on in a positive way.
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Who can blame him?
I mean, it’d be better for all if he left, but don’t you just reap what you sow?
Wish he’d ride off into the MLS sunset though.
Great choice of cover picture, says it all.
loves the club so much he goes on holiday to Turkey for the FA Cup final ?
Hard to call it a holiday if he lives there and his wife and family is from there.
And he wasn’t playing was he.. should he have sat at home with sky sports instead. Would that be better for you?
He clearly says London is his home, so going to Turkey isn’t because he lives there.
And he could have come to the stadium supporting his mates, NOT A BIG ASK. He hates the people on the board, not the ones he trains along and it couldn’t be too difficult to come to Wembley to show your support, ain’t it?
I hate how this episode is panning out, but let’s not paint Ozil as a saint. It takes two to tango, and all that.
I take your point, but the media circus around him would have been more of a distraction than a help on the day itself. Wouldn’t be surprised if Mikel didn’t even want him there, he hasn’t played since March.
Media circus of his creation
No – media circus of the media’s creation.
I agree. If the club wanted him to be there, he would have been, as they would have forced him. Just because you are not selected for a game, doesn’t mean that you can go whereever you want to instead. If he was in Turkey during the final, it’s because the club allowed it or because they simply don’t care anymore where he is and thus don’t give any instructions concerning that. Özil needs to be very smart and careful about his contract and fulfill his obligations down to the last dot and comma. I am pretty sure Arsenal would… Read more »
Heh. You mean YOU would love it. ?
Be profesional..thats it…respect the contract. Ozil stay and thats it…ant other than that is just rubbish…stop talking.
There were no family or friends allowed in the stadium and a limited number of squad players so he clearly couldn’t just rock up and demand to be let in. He also wouldn’t be going on holiday without the club’s permission so stop making things up, there’s not of issues already.
A limited number of squad players allowed in the stadium, says ? And I am being accused of making things up. Baffles me honestly. If I was you, I would just take a long hard look at the mirror. He went on a holiday with the club’s permission obviously. If not, he would have had his arse handed on a plate and fined for eternity and that’s the level of animosity we are talking between Ozil and the board. And this is precisely why I mentioned not to paint anyone a Saint here. I hate this saga to drag on… Read more »
He asked for permission to go to Turkey because of the Islamic EID.
Islamic Eid? Lol. As oppose to Christian or Jewish Eid?!
But yeah, that sounds like a very reasonable explanation. The Ozil haters won’t appreciate you for making it though.
What is reasonable about it? Pepe Xhaka and Kolasanac are all Muslim and played in the cup final, Mustafi in addition. Beforehand.
Ozil is simply a waste of space {and £350k a week}
Check the saliance of your own comment before being a smart ar*e with others
To be on the stadium maybe?
The club pays his salary. Whether he is selected or not, he should have stayed with the squad till the finale whistle.
Maybe the directive was not to include him at all? It’s a PR war right now. With Raul leaving, lets see how it goes.
The board is fighting ozil because He didnt take the pay cut. We s must talk about the owner first
Enemy’s enemy can still also be an enemy and frankly Kronke and Ozil are both enemies of the Arsenal
No but each team were allowed to include players to attend the final that were not in the match day squad hence Mustafi and Martinelli being there to join in on the celebrations. With all due respect to Ozil, himself and Guendouzi chose not to be there which is really not a good look and shouldn’t sit well with the fanbase. At least Ozil took the time to congratulate the team so big up to him for that at least I guess.
The Athletic article says Arsenal released him for holidays early. Still think he should have stayed and supported the team, but I get not wanting to be there.
Excellent strategy by the club because you basically let him choose if he wants to be there with his “mates” in his free time or not. Well, he chose not to, which turned at least a few more Arsenal fans (and maybe even players) against him I guess. It’s basically a PR war now. Had Arsenal forced him to be there the “poor Özil” brigade would have been out in numbers and scolded the club officials for their cruel actions. Not now of course, because since Özil was surplus to requirements for the final, the noble club gave him precious… Read more »
Maybe Ozil loves Arsenal too? He won three FA Cups with us. Maybe, just maybe, he can’t stand Stan Kroenke’s so-called ‘business strategies’…?
Still, you crack on with your Ozil hate….??
“Does Özil love Arsenal? Maybe. Not for me to judge. But he loves a Turkey holiday more.” That must be the world record for how quickly one has contradicted oneself.
And what do you mean by “…….us getting demolished and Özil sulking off…..”? WE WERE 4-1 DOWN, and our hopes of a trophy and Champions’ League qualification were all but gone FFS. I expect everyone who loves Arsenal to be sulking at the time. Weren’t you???
I doubt Arsenal players are as immature as some of the commenters here and in the media.
They know he’s just had a newborn, is being frozen out by the board, has had an awful 2 years and has a religious holiday.Theyr’re probably happy for him to get a short escape.
They all liked his Instagram post, they all speak well of him.
Willock called him “an amazing person”
ESR said he was “blessed to train with him”
They’re not petty or vindictive like some.others.
Top post. Very well said.
The immaturity of some on this site, not to mention their complete lack of understanding of even the basics of the game, is staggering.
Didn’t say he loved football. Things could have been sorted if that was the case.
Not a holiday – Wife family is from turkey and he also has roots back in turkey. Anyway is not like he was going to be played
He wasn’t even selected for the squad – what was he supposed to do, hand out the half time oranges?
In most cases when the guilty party is too strong, we tend to look for weaker scapegoats. Instead of going for test dodging elites we go for weaker migrants. This is the case with Ozil. Ozil being the weaker party in this whole scenario is being blamed for all the mess created by both Kroenke and Raul. The same team which leaked stories to the media that ozil refused to take a paycut. Just because he did the unthinkable and asked them what they are planning to do with the money if players agreed to pay cuts. The same people… Read more »
Sorry I mean tax dodging not test dodging
Dude, you’re preaching to the converted. I fully agree with everything you say.
I was replying to Ayleym, who was questioning Ozil’s non appearance at the Cup Final – on spite of the fact that he wasn’t selected for the squad and that Wembley, in Cup Final Day terms, would have been more or less empty.
I was just adding to what you said. I agree fully with what you stated.
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Maybe they had to lay off those people because Ozil refused a pay cut?
I know it is ridiculous, but so is all the other speculation in this thread. The whole situation is weird, Arsenal clearly want him to leave, and he is giving them a big FU by insisting on staying. Tough love, maybe he loves his paycheck. Is he justified in sticking it to Arsenal?, it is open to debate, is it hurting our club?, very much so. Ozil comes off as duplicitous and petulant.
Dude come on. Don’t tell me you believe that. Everybody bar ozil and two other players agreed to pay cuts but staff members were still laid off. The only one’s petulant were the ones who went to the media to scheme against their own employee. He is not sticking it to arsenal but to kroenke and Raul.
Stan would love you.
Here’s why Arsenal Football Club laid off 50+ employees. Because they have a greedy cunt for a majority shareholder who doesn’t give a flying fuck about anyone or anything else – much less this club – than himself.
We currently have a world class player on our books who has been ostracised from playing for the club, because he had the audacity to question this board’s integrity in asking for said pay cut.
What will he do in London if his bodyguard Kolasanic gets transferred?
He’ll sing:
“I, I will always love you
You, darling, I love you
Ooh, I’ll always, I’ll always love you”
What kind of a fucking question is that…? Being mugged and then subjected to subsequent death threats is hardly a subject to joke about.
Grow up for fuck’s sake.
I would have thought the best cover picture would be photoshopped in Leo Dicaprio in Wolf ofWallstreet, arms out… Over used yes, but now that cover picture would say it all… ’cause thats just what he said…
“I’m not fucking leaving.. I’m not fucking leaving!”
I’m so tired of this situation. I can’t wait for a year to go by so this mess can be behind us
Only 321 more sleeps to go!
I would have rephrased that ‘this particular mess.’
If you think our troubles will be all over and we can all ‘move on’ because Ozil will no longer be around, think again.
If Kroenke can do this to a world class player, think what he can also do to anyone – club staff, players, even a potentially world class manager… Mesut Ozil is not the problem at Arsenal Football Club. Just saying. ?
Yes agreed, Ozil not the problem. The problem was Wenger, then it was Emery, now it’s Arteta and the owners too. But definitely not Mesut Ozil, no way. ?
You believe what you want to believe mate. All I know is this: this time next year you Ozil haters will all be able to celebrate his departure.
Arsenal, meanwhile, will still be scratching around the Europa and stuck with this board. Which you Ozil haters will probably also celebrate.
And you won’t be here? You know, it isn’t Ozil FC, right? Players come and go…but I will always bleed Arsenal red.
As far as I know, it isn’t Anti Ozil FC either.
I’ll be here, I’ve supported Arsenal since 1971. ?
I’m 98 but also disgusted with the way the club and the fans are treating Ozil. Now I look at Stan, Raul, Kia and co and just feel disgust. Can’t believe they represent my club and I hope Arteta steps up and shows he’s not one of them soon because questions are now unanswered
Just remember, sir, that you’re not alone. There are decent Arsenal fans on this site, who like yourself, have seen and appreciated many outstanding players and Mesut Ozil is one of them. I dare say a man of your experience will have seen the likes of Alex James, Ted Drake, Boy Bastin, Wilf Copping, Jimmy Logie, Denis and Leslie Compton (great sportsmen) and then the likes of Vic Groves, George Eastham, Tommy Docherty and Joe Baker. Those must have been wonderful times. Keep the faith in what is the true ‘Arsenal Way’ and, as I said, know that you’re not… Read more »
Just seen that I may not be addressing a 98 year old man, but a guy who started watching The Arsenal in 98..?
In which case, my bad! ?
Cheers anyway!! ???
’98 Glory hunter :p
You are forgetting that German national team hierachy were also the problem too… But still definitely never Mesut.
This club has many problems, big and small
Mesut is a medium sized one
I would say someone being paid £18m a year to not even pull on their boots is a big problem.Not Mesut’s fault,admittedly,but a big problem nonetheless.
Mate, in terms of problems, Mesut Ozil is NOTHING compared to this board, who have frozen him out. As it stands in terms of his contract he could yet still be a useful player for us – but in reality people have passed judgment on him, rather than ask themselves why he refused to take that pay cut – despite the fact that it has now become crystal clear to one and all that this board blatantly lied to Mikel Arteta and his players that their contributions would ensure that no Arsenal staff would lose their jobs. And yet some… Read more »
I’m looking forward to seeing him play for another year. We were far more entertaining when he was on the pitch.
I’m actually astonished that the tone on this blog and in the comments seems to be against Ozil after the revelations of the past week.
I would have thought anyone with any common sense would be on his side by now..
I don’t even think it paints a bad picture of Arsenal (except the monster contract that they are paying him, but that masterpiece was painted 3 years ago). He doesn’t want to leave, even though he doesn’t play. Ozil is basically saying: I’m happy living in London, I’m happy being paid this super fat contract that Arsenal gave me, I was under no obligation to part ways with any of that fat contract (throw blame about the pay cut for PR), I don’t care if I play football, And a little throwaway comment about Arsenal not caring about Muslim people… Read more »
When all is said and done, I wonder which party will be proven to have been the most honest and transparent. It’s a pity that Arteta is the meat in the sandwich.
Arteta should have stood up to the board and used the player. Instead, he chose to go along with the “ruthless” Raul tactic and try to force him out this summer. The player is no idiot and has made fools of everyone now.
I wouldn’t be so sure about that. I think Arteta hasn’t been impressed by him.
I think Arteta chose a squad tactically to get through the remaining games of the season. Needed to focus on solidifying the defensive side of our game, and in some ways the gamesmanship of our players to rid the so-called “soft” label that had been handed to us. Mesut, on his day is a fantastic footballer, and he has brought a lot of joy to us as fans, remember when we were all excited about him joining for £42m. The problem is, Mesut only thrives in a team that dictates the play, we’ve not been doing that for a while,… Read more »
Anthony, you might have your blinders on here, a bit, but I nonetheless absolutely love the positivity of this post and it’s a dream to read on this page today.
I tried to write something that put a positive spin on the Ozil saga, but it just sinks so quickly. Then I tried not to care, and here I am. Thank you.
Maybe I do, but then even in the darkest days of Emery and some of the latter days of Arsene’s tenure, I always look to the positive.
Arteta is building up a team, and I feel we owe it to him to get behind him and our team.
Good post. That said, it’s worth remembering that Ozil has had stand and watch as Alexis, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey have all been allowed to leave and not been adequately replaced.
If this board has turned us into a red and white Everton, that’s not Ozil’s fault – although there’s plenty who lay our demise from the ECL and the top four squarely at his feet.
I kinda agree with you because from the start of his saga, one thing which was apparent and even it is now is some people don’t want him in the club maybe it’s Raul or KSE, I don’t know but Mikel has made his choice wisely and knowing Ozil has only a year left on the contract Mikel would be an idiot to pick Ozil’s side in the conflict.
Idiots are brave as opposed to cowards
It’s not a direct relationship.
Believe it or not Mikel is the one in the line of fire (without any fault of his own) and he had to make a choice because he has to coach a team and prepare them week in week out!! Also remember this is the first job of Mikel and he cannot go bonkers like Guendouzi did. This will raise a lot of questions of his behavior which he certainly wouldn’t want this early in his managerial career. .
I don’t want to believe that Arteta is taking sides. I have a feeling it’s about Ozil’s refusal to take the pay cut. That coming from a senior member of the team and the highest paid probably left Arteta disappointed.
Ozil had the right to refuse it but he should have known that there are always consequences to our actions. He didn’t act like a team player that time and Arteta is clearly trying to build a team.
But two others person didn’t take it too and a just ozil them talk about only
You should really read the whole interview. It goes into depth about Ozil’s decision. There is much more to it than this post mentions. He explains his decision (and he was not alone in the decision) quite clearly. We may or may not agree in the end, but we should really decide how we feel about it based on all of the information out there.
This post does not address that issue.
This ESPNFC article has more of that insight:
https://www.espn.com/soccer/arsenal/story/4158640/arsenals-ozil-people-have-been-trying-to-destroy-me-for-two-years
Just read this. Great link. Wasted on the Ozil Haters on this site, of course.
Ozil was a team player in asking for clarity regarding paycut. The finger should be pointed at both Raul and Kroenke who lied to the players. Ozil didn’t lay off staff after promising not to. The people who tried to forced him out of arsenal not only unsettled Ozil but made a mug out of Arteta by making look bad in front of the players are the ones to be blamed. Ozil is going to go and then the same thing is going to happen again to maybe Aubameyang or any other player key player on a bigger contract.
What Arteta thought the paycut was and now what he realises it is are probably 2 different things. I wonder if that changes his feelings towards Mesut.
Excuse me? Beating €ity and chel$ea to win the fa cup despite Ozil rather than because of Ozil has justified Arteta’s decision.
It’s clearly not Arteta’s decision – it’s the boards. He was playing him right up until lockdown. There have been no stories of unrest in the changing room (aside from Guendouzi) and the only major Ozil story to emerge post lock down is that he refused to take a pay cut implemented by the board. There is absolutely no way Arteta would leave a player of Ozil’s pedigree out for taking that decision – it is purely financial and not related in any way to the game. No, this is between Ozil and the board. Arteta’s only involvement has to… Read more »
It seems more likely this was Arteta’s decision as he is the 4th consecutive manager to freeze Ozil out. We’ve reached a point with Ozil where I wonder if the past 3 years are what people remember vs. his first couple of good seasons when we look back on his time here.
No one will remember the first Ozil, only the Ozil who took 350k a week and somehow felt he was a player who deserved special consideration and perks like not having to train after an away game as under Wenger.
Here’s what happened, Ozil had special treatment, Emery took those away. Ozil pouted to get them back and its been a variation of this game with different managers ever since. He’s a one way player, one of the best in the world, but the modern game requires two way players. He’s no longer a competitive player for the PL.
You name me one player who can be competitive for the Premier League – or any league – when they’re not being picked to play …?
He had more than his share of chances to show what he had. He had 2 assists in the 2019 season…the same as Sokratis. That is pathetic.
Ok. You’ve rubbished him – and you’ve got your wish because the board won’t allow him to play. He’s gone.
So. Who would you replace him with? Who is going to wake up this stagnant midfield and get us back in the top four and the ECL?
Well, Willock replaced him in the 2019 Europa League final in the last 20 minutes and immediately was 100 times more impactful in the match. It’s not actually that hard to replace the current incarnation of Mesut Ozil. Says alot when a youngster makes you look out of your depth. He just doesn’t fancy it anymore. I wish he did.
Just because some xenophobic commentators and pundits tell you that the English youngster Willock was “100 times more impactful” than the foreigner, Ozil, doesn’t mean he was actually “100 times more impactful” than him.
If you think Willock is a suitable replacement for Ozil, then you really don’t know your football. Willock lacks the technical ability and does not make the optimum decisions – just two of the skills which you cannot deny Ozil has.
Joe Willock….?! ?
Be honest, are you Mesut Ozil? Lol
More likely Ozil’s PR or agent team.
Neither.
Just an Arsenal fan since 1971 who knows a world class player – and a corrupt board of directors – when he sees one.
Speak for yourself. Those of us with long memories and intelligence will remember the whole lot, whereas you will remember what you’re told to remember by TalkSport and the rest of the Ozil-hating media.
Don’t tell us what happened – you’re not some expert insider; you know fuckall.
Spot on. Any true Arsenal fan knows that Talksport ( with the exception of Ray Parlour and Perry Groves) is an infestation of Tottenham bias. Jealous Tottenham bias who rubbish Mesut Ozil because they haven’t had a player with half of his ability. The trophy dodging cunts.
It’s only a matter of time before I phone those cunts at Talksport up and ask them when they’re going to sort their own back garden out – namely Tottenham.
59 years without a League Title.
29 years without an FA Cup.
12 years without any fucking trophy at all. The fucking mugs.
Kinda the other way around mate. Four managers, same owner, talented footballer, same outcome.
Spot on.
If he was really that bad, why did Arteta play him then for more or less every game up until lockdown? His form at the start of this calendar year was certainly no worse than any of our other attacking midfield players, post Emery. In fact, I remember he played quite well against Manchester United on New Years Day. There were also games under Emery where he was absolutely outstanding, the 4-2 home win against Tottenham and a 3-1 win against Leicester City where he was unstoppable. This decision to omit Ozil has not been taken by Arteta – it… Read more »
Dude you are waiting your time. To some here all that have to be done is get rid of Ozil and then all problems will be solved. If you have an owner with the audacity to blatantly lie to players. Manipulate them to take pay cuts then turn around and do exactly what he promised them not to do. If it comes to taking sides between ozil and kroenke. I will take ozil’s side any day because of the person ozil is compared to kroenke. Yes it’s true Ozil has not been performing well for some time now. Isn’t it… Read more »
Agreed.
And if Kroenke can do that to a world class player, he can do that to anyone – players, employees, and managers – including Mikel Arteta.
What do you mean “the 4th consecutive manager to freeze Ozil out”? You’re clearly including interim managers, and it’s a bit of a stretch to say Freddie froze him out. And can you remind me when did Arsene “freeze Ozil out”? He always picked him when available and not needing to be rested for more important games, right up until his departure.
Maybe the greatest manager in our club’s history was right, and his inferior successors have all been wrong?
Wenger didn’t support the size of the contract Ozil was given but was himself. a lame duck because of his share of the blame allocation on the Alexis / Lemar clusterf+&# at the end of the previous transfer window. If Arsene had any future at that stage he might well have called Ozil’s bluff and got rid for a fee or a decent swap instead
Sliding doors moment for me that summer beforehand Rambo would still be a gooner for one.
Ozil is a busted flush. Lazy and a luxury. At the stage we’re at we need players who can dig in and he’s not one of them. Sooner he goes the better.
“Players who can ‘dig in’.”.,,?! ? This is Arsenal, mate, not Leyton Orient. We employ attacking midfielders to be attacking midfielders – not John Sitton style cloggers!! ?
Imagine if there was no TalkSport, or any other media – you’d have no opinions.
The board pannicked when giving him a contract because our only two “name” players were running their contracts down. Since then he has played for four managers and has been hopless for all of them. Ozil has an eye for a pass but nothing else. In modern football the best players do more. Ozil does not have it in him to play at the highest level. Look at his displays over the last three years. For the most part he has been embarrassing. He needs to play at a lesser level where his overall ability lies. You can’t blame him… Read more »
In a nutshell! Shocked so many are still fooled! Arteta demands 100%, so why do people still think he should pick him when you do not get that ever! He shy’s from challenges, rarely dribbles, does not score nearly enough and is not even close to Bergkamp status for a pass, or Thierry and Cesc for that matter! Should have signed Cesc back when we had the chance as Ozil has proved to not be the world class player we thought we were getting. Cannot wait to be rid and I really have tried to support/like him, but he is… Read more »
Because the broad can real those managers
So, as someone who clearly knows what constitutes players at the highest level, who would you replace Ozil with next season, to get us back in to the top four? (NB. Without Ozil, this squad picked up 16 points from 30 in our remaining Premiership games after lockdown)
The fantasy question of who I would like to replace Ozil is different to what will happen. Of course I would like to see Mo Salah or Kevin De Bruyne but with our board we are likely to buy another past it name player who is cheap in order to placate fans who are only satisfied with name players. Realistically we have to hope that Nelson, Martinelli and Saka blossom in to decent players. As for Ozil to repeat what I said before, he has prodused nothing, including regular assists, for years.Not one of Wenger, Emery, Llungberg or Arteta could… Read more »
This is crazy.He had a goal or assist every 1.8 games under Wenger
1 in 3 since contract which isn’t even that bad
Overall he has one every 2.1 games of his Arsenal career which is the 2nd best of any non striker in our history, Cesc is 2.0
Oh and he’s created 1 of every 5 chancess Arsenal have created since 2013/14
It’s amazing how people are rewriting history.
Stick to what he has done in the last 3 years.
If he was playing well and had had good current stats why does no club want to get him even on a free??
Amazing how people are rewriting history.
Ozil doesn’t work very hard (and that’s not the same as running). You ask a bunch of guys to work hard and with intent then allow the ‘star’ player (or any player for that matter) to coast at their own levels then you lose creditably. Players don’t take you seriously and not only do the standards drop in terms of work rate but also how receptive they will be to anything else you say. It’s called managing a TEAM. Ozil made the decision for him not the executives. Do I blame ozil? No I don’t. He is what we signed.… Read more »
Ha ha ha. Yes, Arteta came in and never gave Ozil a chance? That was it, right? Or no, he played him but then the Board asked him not to pick Ozil anymore. That was it, right? And what was it with Emery again? He also was too weak to pick Ozil. And what about Arsene? He had lost it. Right? Sorry for asking for clarification but I does get so confused trying to keep track of all the wrongs done to the highest paid player at the club.
It’s this board of directors. No one is safe from Kroenke and the Stooges. Not even Arteta.
If only he had the same determination to win his place back in the team
He believes that he has done his part, when it comes to football.
From the interview:
“I fully respect the coach’s decision but I believe these things should mainly be decided on the pitch. After the restart, I wasn’t given a chance to show what I can do. You don’t play 10 games in a row if you’re unfit, not good enough or don’t behave well. If I played these games badly and was then left out completely for that reason then I might understand, but this was not the case.”
Just to be clear: I personally don’t defend him in this case, I think that his performance was pretty mediocre. Also I believe in Arteta, and I believe that the non-footballing reasons that have lead to Özil being dropped, are related to the non-negotiables. Özil either doesn’t understand those, or believe that he is above those rules, and thinks that when he plays “good”, then everything else should be forgiven. We saw with Matteo that this is not the case with Arteta. It is not enough to post “I am ready” pictures on Instagram, you have to really commit yourself… Read more »
Dude, please.
How can he commit when he’s ostracised from playing …..?!! ?
Unpopular opinion – I think that anyone who is aware of the fragility of a clubs finances and stature but is prepared to pick up their crippling paycheque while barely jogging around the field, creating problems off the field and then refusing to move on is a shitty person and a faux sportsman.
There. I said it.
You’re not wrong. But he’s an employee in the entertainment business. Sports has very little to do with it. Not giving a fellow player a hand getting up if he’s falling, that’s bad sportsmanship. But he works for a business, and he runs a business. Like it or not. He’s right – he has a 4 year contract, and we’re stuck with him. I don’t understand the finer details of football contracts, but I’m sure it would be very very difficult to cancel a contract on the grounds of “you’re not trying hard enough”.
In any other world, you get fired. In any other world, you don’t continually get rewarded for poor performance. In any other world, if you don’t try hard enough, you are unemployed. But this is different. It’s football and I agree Ozil isn’t doing anything wrong legally. But morally and on an individual level, I think he’s behaving terribly and he doesn’t really care about being a sportsman anymore. He quit international football for being “scapegoated”. Try being an English footballer. We scapegoat them every world cup. They don’t whinge about it. He’s been happy to basically not play for… Read more »
I agree completely. But in any other world, you work from 9 to 5, and thats it. Thats your output. In football, you can work every day, but not play in the weekends. That’s not your own decision. He’s not performing poorly (that we know of) – he’s simply not picked. You can’t really fire him for not being picked. That would be the equivalent of putting your accounting in the broom cabinet, and then firing him for not being at his desk.
Mate, I totally know what you’re saying and contracts are so important so that when Sp*rs waste their money on shitty signings, they can’t just bin them off. I totally get it. But Ozil could be competing on a field with a crowd that love him in like two months time. He could even pretty much make the same bank doing it. But he doesn’t want to because his competitive nature is gone. The most heartbreaking thing in the Wright Rocastle documentary was when David was told they had accepted an offer from Leeds. He cried in the carpark. And… Read more »
“Things have obviously been difficult but I love Arsenal, I love to work there, I love the people in the club — the real people, those I’ve been with for a long time — and I love London, it’s my home.
If you can’t see the less than subtle swipe at the current manager and his personnel then I don’t know what to say. Basically Ozil liked it when he was the coddled superstar who was wrapped in cotton wool.
This kind of passive aggressive communication is exactly what I’m talking about.
Maybe he thinks Mikel is one of those real people, that he’s known for a long time.
The Manager is ironically one of the real people’s who he’s been with for a long time
Johnny, I don’t think Ozzie has any issues with Mikel Arteta. It’s the board. He has stated in that interview that there are people at the club who have, and I quote ‘tried to destroy me during the past two years’ unquote. It’s the board. And this reluctance to terminate his contract early is a clear ‘Fuck You’ to them. I don’t blame him at all, in fact, I admire him for standing up to them. He had the balls to call them out on their shoddy pay cut requisition and to question their integrity. The 50+ Job losses and… Read more »
*Ozil, not Ozzie. Fucking auto correct. ?
“In any other world, you get fired. In any other world, you don’t continually get rewarded for poor performance. In any other world, if you don’t try hard enough, you are unemployed.”
The current British government and Chris Grayling say Hi.
I’m pretty sure if any of them caused problems for three different prime ministers, were happy to do the absolute minimum and generally had a petulant attitude, they would be quickly removed from office.
I’m sure Chris Grayling (not to mention Grant Shapps and David Davis) would thoroughly agree with your assessment. FAILURE IS NEVER REWARDED.
Can you just stop relating fun things like football to politics?
It’s bad enough that every fucking day I have to listen to everyone’s opinions on the coronavirus and Brexit and Trump and the furlough scheme. It’s bad enough that every family meal time descends into black lives matter, twenty-seventh wave feminism and the wealth gap. It’s bad enough that I had to leave all forms of social media because all that is left of it is people calling each other Nazi’s.
Don’t bring that shit into this house.
I was going to point out that errant apostrophe but don’t want to start the nazi name calling, albeit of the grammar variety…
Thanks man, I appreciate you not mentioning that.
Top post, Johnny. ?
Boris J says hi
I’m not saying he should be in the starting 11 but how do you know he’s had a petulant attitude? The truth is none of us know what’s been going on, we just make assumptions based on tiny snippets in the media from the club and the player. I’d like a fat bold line drawn under this entire episode but I’m not willing to sling mud at the player or the club without being furnished with facts. The only thing I do know about is that he was proved correct for not accepting the pay cut. Let’s just hope they… Read more »
So he’s been trouble for Mikel Arteta, Freddie Ljungberg and Unai Emery. These aren’t really assumptions. I think it’s fair to say that Ozil is a temperamental individual who does pretty much what he likes. His tweets in the wake of being dropped by Arteta and Emery show an attempt to use his considerable fanbase to score points and undermine the authority of the manager. It’s funny how we happily assume that Guendouzi has been disrespectful and needs to leave with little or no evidence. But if we insinuate that Ozil’s attitude is anything other than exemplary then it’s mud… Read more »
The guendouzi situation is different as we’ve actually been given some sort of explanation both times there has been a problem. It’s also different as he isn’t on a bumper contract so it doesn’t wind up the fanbase, who are desperate to see a rebuild, as much. I’m not even defending him I’m just saying that both sides play the PR game and try to curry favour with the fans. I’m just willing to hope for a rapid conclusion and save the mud slinging until we have some actual facts. What we have currently is two PR machines in full… Read more »
I think this is a great point and I agree with almost all of it. Unfortunately until we read Ozil or Arteta’s book we will never get the full story. And even then it will be heavily biased. I hate to use the adage no smoke without fire, but I would usually say if a lot of people had a problem with someone, then there’s probably a problem with that person. I just don’t buy the frozen out in order to save money theory as Emery, Ljungberg and Arteta have all used Ozil. Unfortunately each one has eventually fallen out… Read more »
While I agree what a lot of what you said, all three managers have had shit results with no plan b on the (ozil ) bench , we totally could have done with ozil coming off the bench to pick the lock against villa , recently and a experienced European player against the greek lot in the Europa League , to give two examples at least have him on the bench to see out a game or try Nd provide an assist , if he is going to be here for next season s
Mate, what evidence do you have that he’s fallen out with Arteta?
Yes, he’s been ostracised from playing, but that was the board’s decision for Ozil not accepting the pay cut.
There has been no evidence to suggest a falling out between Ozil and Arteta.
Actually those are assumptions. We have absolutely no context to claim Ozil has caused Arteta any problems, other than the ownership not liking paying him the money they signed on the line for.
Isn’t that an assumption?
Seems odd that Arteta would have given him game time in the first place if this was the case.
We all have the ability to read body language and a considerable number of us have read petulance, amongst other things, in Ozil’s.
You can add, but not limited too, laziness and indifference to that.
Although it’s Jose, and we know what we think of him, Ozil does talk about a row the two of them had. Jose is quoted as saying this… “You think two beautiful passes are enough. You think you’re so good that 50% is enough.” And then… “Oh, are you giving up now? You’re such a coward. What do you want? To creep under the beautiful, warm shower? Shampoo your hair? To be alone? Or do you want to prove to your fellow players, the fans out there, and me, what you can do.” I mean, doesn’t this sound just a… Read more »
It’s unheard of that Real would sell a 24 year old if they thought he was a world class player and over time their decision to sell was the right one.
Ozil undoubtedly has his qualities but his weaknesses are too great to put him in the very top bracket of players
Actually Real are widely known for signing and selling on whims and for headlines to appease some of the most volatile, fickle fans on the planet.
Why would they sell and sign players to appease our fans?
But they’ve won 3 or 4 Champions League titles since he left, so it really doesn’t matter does it?
Well, he’s gone now. And we have an over the hill Chelsea reject for a number 10, instead of a world class former Real Madrid player.
Satisfied? ?
And you listen to the words of Jose Mourinho…? ?
Not at all, you interpret and assume all that from a look, in what world is that a fair conclusion?
It’s my conclusion, much in the same way as when i see someone crying i think they are sad or smiling i think they are happy
He was dcapegoated by his federation and they were plain aweful
They weren’t awful. They criticised his close relationship with the Turkish president who has a horrible human rights record. That seems fair enough to me. If Jordan Henderson started hanging out with Vladimir Putin, I’d expect the same. Here’s what the Bayern Munich president said about Ozil’s performances after he announced his retirement. Sound familiar? “Ozil has been playing shit for years. He won his last tackle before the 2014 World Cup. All he is doing on the field is playing cross passes. Now he hides himself and his crap performances behind this photo (with the Turkish president). Whenever we… Read more »
Johnny 4 Hats: Here’s my opinion on the morality and ethics of economic relationships
Also Johnny 4 Hats: <crying> OH GOD PLZ DONT GET POLITICAL I’M SOO TIRED OF HEARING OTHER PEOPLE’S OPINIONS
There’s definitely a way of delivering that point without being patronising. We’re all gooners here and therefore on the same team.
I was just making a (hopefully) humorous reference to the saturation of political discourse on the internet. The last thing I want to do is assess the competency of our current leaders when discussing matters football, both economic and moral.
And ease up on the Caps Lock. Your point is good enough not to need it.
I absolutely agree with you. Being a German citizen (at least according to your passport) and being best buddy with Erdogan can roughly be compared to Gary Lineker meeting and hugging Saddam Hussein shortly before the Italia’90 World Cup and then having an absolutely crappy performance. Everybody can judge for themselves if they would have found that cool, outrageous or simply wouldn’t have cared. In Germany I guess the majority of football fans found it not so cool. If those people targeted him because of “racist” reasons and would have applauded & praised or at least not targeted … let’s… Read more »
I hate to say it, but I have to agree, Hats. I just don’t get why Ozil doesn’t want to be on the field for someone. Maybe he doesn’t believe he can perform at a high enough level anymore. It’s shameful and as popular as he used to be with his teammates, they have to resent him now. He had some superb years with us, but he was always a luxury player and now we can’t afford that. We can all remember the magnificent passes, exquisite flicks, and solid ball control; but also the jogging back on defense, distaste for… Read more »
I love your optimism man but I think Bayern or Juve wouldn’t touch him with a thirty foot barge pole.
And maybe the fact that we can’t offload him, even for free and paying some of his wage bill, says a lot about where Ozil is in other clubs estimations.
I remember when everyone wanted defensive signings as our attack was too fluid with Alexis and Mesut at their best.
The contract isnt going away and he wont take a pay cut. Recoup some of the money by playing him.
Even Blogs is milking the situation coz any articles with Ozil translates to very good Traffic on the site.
One things for sure, u will see MO10 in the next Kit release pics on Arsenal.com
He doesn’t hate The Arsenal. He loves The Arsenal – ie the players and the supporters.
It’s Stan and the fucking Stooges that he can’t stand. And I don’t blame him. Fuck the board. And that’s basically what he is saying by refusing to shift. Good on him. ?
You are correct. And, the clubs always look to take advantage of the players. It is nice to see a player stand up to a club, and force them to respect their end of the contract. It sets a precedent for others that follow behind them that will have lesser means.
fragility of a the clubs finances- owned by a multi-billionaire
crippling pay cheque— i thinks we still operating
barely jogging on the pitch– check out opta stats
creating problems off the field- supports causes you dont
refusing to move on– contracted not obliged to move on
shitty person– and the rest are Dalai lamas
faux sportsman– world cup winner , more ability in his left little toe than the rest of your body
Well maybe his left toe. But not his right.
What about “anyone who is aware of the fragility of a clubs finances” who is unwilling to do anything about it except sack 55 people whose entire annual wages are approximately 1/2000 of your net worth?
Fragility of the club’s finances…?! ?
We have an eight times over billionaire for a majority shareholder and are about to pay £250k a week for three years to an over the hill Chelsea reject.
There is no fragility.Our owner is worth $10b and his wife $8b He covered the most distance and had the most ball recoveries Vs United and was near the top for all the games he played. He had a faster top speed than Bellerin, Pepe and Saka Vs Newcastle. He has been by far our top chance creator per 90 this season with 2.6 He has got a ton of pre assists because he’s playing from deep. 5 in the last 10 games in fact. Arteta said his “attitude has been incredible” and “he’s giving everything he has in training”… Read more »
Straight from the horses mouth. And there are STILL people who voted this down and can’t get it into their thick Ozil- hating heads.
This has got nothing to do with Arteta and everything to do with Stan, the Stooges and that fucking pay cut.