MESUT OZIL and Per Mertesacker had a heated exchange as the midfielder left the field after Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton.
The loss means Arsenal are on their worst run of form for 42 YEARS and the German pair were clearly not happy about it.
Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker had a heated exchange as the midfielder left the field after Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton
The former international team-mates shook hands eventually but neither looked happy
Ozil was still muttering to himself as he walked down the tunnel
The defeat means the Gunners have not won in nine and the last time they went ten without a win was way back in March 1977.
Goals from Adam Webster and Neal Maupay either side of Alexandre Lacazette’s equaliser meant the North Londoners slip to tenth in the table.
And the angry feeling was clearly too much for Ozil as he was seen shouting and gesticulating at his former international and club team-mate.
Mertesacker remained fairly calm throughout the incident and shook Ozil’s hand as the two crossed paths on the touchline.
It is unclear exactly what or who Ozil was angry about but he certainly let academy manager Mertesacker know as he skulked off the pitch.
Ozil was uninspiring once again as the Seagulls took all three points from North London.
And temporary boss Freddie Ljungberg said after the game the defeat was “not Arsenal”.
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The Swede said: “”It was tough.
“We didn’t show up in the first half, didn’t work hard and didn’t want to play. You can’t start like that.
“Second half we had a word and were better but we are suspect on the counter and we have no confidence. We gave them 45 minutes at home.
“I need to work on that and get confidence back into the boys.
“It’s a concern for any coach, a lack of confidence.
“At half time we said ‘This is not Arsenal, we have to give it a crack.’ That’s what I want to see from them.
“Of course it’s disappointing but we’ve got to keep on going. The players are low on confidence, I think you can see that.
“There was a little bit of a reaction in the second half, but you’ve got to start games like that.
“We’re in a difficult situation, we’ve lost a lot of games and the confidence has gone down.
“We started the game flat with no energy and it’s my job to get them to be aggressive and play with energy.”
Arsenal travel to West Ham on Monday which could provide some respite with Manuel Pellegrini’s Hammers in a crisis of their own.
Fans leave early as boos ring around The Emirates as Arsenal lose at home to Brighton
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
