Arsenal

Mesut Ozil agent launches attack on Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 23 October 2020

Mesut Ozil's agent criticises Mikel Arteta's decision to leave the 32-year-old out of his Premier League squad and accuses the Gunners boss of not being truthful.

The agent of Arsenal outcast Mesut Ozil has launched a scathing attack on Gunners manager Mikel Arteta following Ozil's omission from Arsenal's Premier League and Europa League squads.

The ex-Germany international is Arsenal's longest-serving player having joined from Real Madrid seven years ago, but Ozil appears to have played his final game for the North London outfit after being left out of Arteta's squads this season.

Ozil hit out at aperceived lack of loyalty following the news of his omission, and the playmaker's agent Dr Erkut Sogut believes that the Gunners are not being fully truthful about the situation.

"Arsenal fans deserve an honest explanation, not [Arteta] saying 'I failed Ozil,'" Sogut told ESPN. "You didn't fail Ozil: you failed to be fair, honest and transparent and treat someone with respect who has a contract and was loyal all the time.

"Every single person outside knows he hasn't treated him fairly. He didn't give him a chance to show himself this season. If he is still under contract, the player should have the option to stay and fight for his place. Mesut hasn't been given that.

"Why would you put a player on the bench twice for 90 minutes [against Brighton and Crystal Palace in June] if he wasn't fit or committed?

"Everyone says he's training well. Per Mertesacker said this publicly. I spoke with at least five teammates who say he is training great. They say Mesut is one of their best players, and they cannot understand why he is left out.

"So it can't be the training - if it is not the pitch, what are the footballing reasons? If you talk, you should tell the truth that the Arsenal fans deserve otherwise don't talk at all."

Ozil's contract at the Emirates will expire next summer, but despite his lack of game time, the former Real Madrid man has proclaimed his desire to see out the final months of his Arsenal deal.