MIKEL ARTETA last night admitted that he failed in his responsibility to get the best out of Mesut Ozil but insisted his conscience is clear.
The Arsenal boss was responding after Ozil had declared war on the club by accusing them of disloyalty.
Mesut Ozil claims his ‘loyalty’ to Arsenal has not been returned but Mikel Arteta says he was left out purely due to performance levelsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Gunners’ manager Mikel Arteta will not hide behind club chiefs over his own decision to drop Mesut OzilCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Ozil lashed out on social media after being omitted from Arsenal’s Premier League squad this week.
But Arteta insisted that Ozil had no-one to blame but himself for the decision which means he has almost certainly played his last game for the club.
He said: “What is happening with Mesut now is nothing new.
“The atmosphere around him when I joined was pretty difficult and a lot of these things have been going on for eight years.
“My job is to get the best out of every player to contribute to the team performance and at the moment I feel that I’ve failed.
“I wanted the best possible Mesut and at times we were able to get close to that but at the moment I haven’t been able to do that because I had to take the decision to leave him out of the squad.
“It’s nothing to do with behaviour or about pay cuts like I keep reading. That’s not true.
“I was hired as manager to win matches for this club and I have to make the decisions to get the best possible team out there as often as I can.
“Mesut has had the opportunities like everyone else but I have to look at the daily input to the performance and what every player brings to the team.
“I am not going to hide behind the board or the owners.
“This decision is my responsibility and my conscience is very calm because I have been really fair with him.
“I am sad that I had to leave three players out of this list and it’s never nice telling them that they are not going to be involved.
Boss Mikel Arteta says there has been a long-running ‘difficult’ situation with playmaker Mesut OzilCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Greece defender Sokratis, who like Mesut Ozil is 32, has also been omitted from Arsenal’s Premier League squadCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“But I can look everyone in the eye and be comfortable with it and I have this feeling with Mesut because I have been very straightforward since I arrived at this club.”
The ongoing row totally overshadowed the club’s preparations for tonight’s opening Europa League game away to Rapid Vienna.
But Ozil, 32, has made it clear that he is not going to be quietly pushed through the Emirates exit after more than seven months without playing for the club.
With club’s only allowed to register 17 overseas players, both Ozil and Greek defender Sokratis have been deemed surplus to requirements by Arteta.
So the £42.5million playmaker, who is currently the club’s longest serving player, took to Instagram to air his grievances to his 22.3million followers.
He declared: “I’m really disappointed by the fact that I have not been registered for the Premier League season for the time being.
No matter what, I will keep fighting for my chance and not let my eighth season at Arsenal end like this.
Mesut Ozil
“Upon signing my new contract in 2018, I pledged my loyalty and allegiance to the club that I love, Arsenal.
“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 was maybe a chance to get back in the squad soon again. That’s why I kept silent so far.
“Before the coronavirus break I was really happy with the development under our new coach Mikel Arteta – we’ve been on a positive way and I would say my performances were on a really good level.
“But then things changed, again, and I was no longer allowed to play football for Arsenal.
“What else can I say? London still feels like home, I have many good friends in this team and I still feel a strong connection with the fans of this club.
“No matter what, I will keep fighting for my chance and not let my eighth 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.”
Ozil was a regular starter under Arteta until football went into lockdown but he has not kicked a ball for the club since March 7.
Arsenal told him at the end of last season that he did not figure in Arteta’s plans and tried to help him find a new club in the summer.
But Ozil made it clear that would see out the remaining season of his contract even if it meant him not playing.
So being omitted from the squads for the Premier League and for the Europa League could not have come as a surprise to Ozil nor his advisers.
And yet another row over a player who is not going to be involved all season is the very last thing that Arteta needs right now.
Likely Arsenal line-up (3-4-3): Leno; Mustafi, Luiz, Kolasinac; Maitland-Niles, Partey, Elneny, Saka; Pepe, Lacazette, Nketiah.
Mesut Ozil posts emotional statement slamming Arsenal for lack of ‘loyalty’ after being axed from Prem and Euro squads
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
