MESUT OZIL is unlikely to ever play for Arsenal again after he was left out of the club’s 25-man Premier League squad.
SunSport revealed last week how the Gunners were set to omit the German playmaker from the squad.
Mesut Ozil has not played a competitive match for Arsenal since MarchCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Now Mikel Arteta’s side have confirmed Ozil, 32, has been unceremoniously DUMPED as their official squad list was submitted to league chiefs.
In the 25-man squad, clubs are not allowed to submit more than 17 homegrown players over the age of 21, with Arsenal boasting 19 in their ranks.
Clubs are allowed to revise their squad in the New Year, but this snub surely means that the 2014 World Cup winner has no future at Arsenal.
The former Real Madrid maestro hasn’t played a competitive game for the North Londoners since the 1-0 win against West Ham in March.
Earlier this month, Ozil was left out of the Europa League squad – further evidence that he is not needed by Mikel Arteta.
Along with Ozil – who pockets £350,000-a-week at the Emirates – it has also been reported that Greek centre-back Sokratis has also been omitted from the Premier League squad.
Both players are set to become free agents at the end of the season, with Arsenal keen to get the duo off their wage bill.
Ozil has turned down a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia in order to fight for his place under Arteta, but the club have turned their back on their once club-record signing.
Arsenal’s 25-man Premier League squad
Homegrown *
Cedric Soares
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Hector Bellerin*
Willian
Dani Ceballos
Calum Chambers*
Gabriel Magalhaes
Mohamed Elneny
Rob Holding*
Sead Kolasinac
Alexandre Lacazette
Bernd Leno
Matt Macey*
Ainsley Maitland-Niles*
Pablo Mari
David Luiz
Shkodran Mustafi
Thomas Partey
Nicolas Pepe
Runar Alex Runarsson
Kieran Tierney
Granit Xhaka
Arsenal academy boss Per Mertesacker – who played with Ozil for both the Gunners and Germany – has stated that him being frozen out of the side isn’t to do with his on-field performances.
He told the Klick and Rush podcast: “A lot has changed away from the field.
“He got married, has a family… perhaps his focus has changed.
“Nevertheless, he is still happy and happy to play football.
“He’s the only player I’ve played with for three teams – Bremen, Arsenal and also Germany.
“So I’m very sorry that he’s currently in a situation where he’s not really used.”
Arsene Wenger last week urged Arsenal to get Ozil back involved again as he said the club are wasting away his career.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
