MESUT OZIL has aimed a sly dig at boss Mikel Arteta by declaring he is fit and raring to go.
The Germany international hasn’t featured since football returned from lockdown and has been left out of Arsenal’s last five matchday squads.
Arteta had initially cited his absence down to a back injury but there has been little mention of his recovery since.
Ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool on Wednesday, Arteta was quizzed on Ozil’s availability but insisted he would miss out yet again.
The Spaniard responded: “With Mesut the situation is still the same as it was.”
But Ozil has defied his manager on Twitter with a picture of him in training with the message: “I AM READY.”
Before his apparent injury, Arteta had previously said he was dropped for “tactical reasons”.
But it now looks abundantly clear that Arteta is keen to build his squad without the 31-year-old.
Arsenal have been desperate to get Ozil’s £350,000-a-week wages off their books but no clubs are willing to come anywhere near close to his pay packet.
Arteta has banished Ozil from his matchday squadsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
With his contract expiring next summer, it means Ozil could stay for another year pocketing huge money while not featuring.
Ozil’s agent Erkut Sogut has stated that his client intends to remain at the club until his contract expires in 2021.
SunSport exclusively revealed last week that Ozil is seeking a move to Turkey or America once he becomes a free agent.
Former Arsenal heroes Santi Cazorla and Nacho Monreal embrace in tunnel before LaLiga clash
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
