German journalist Raphael Honigstein believes Mesut Ozil wants to stay at Arsenal, but is waiting on a satisfactory offer.

Ozil is out of contract in the summer but there is hope that he could yet extend his stay at the club. According to German journalist Raphael Honigstein, the 29-year-old does want to stay at Arsenal, but is still waiting on Arsenal to make a suitable offer.

“I think his preferred choice is very much to stay at Arsenal,” he told ESPN FC via the Express. “It’s down to him to make himself indispensable or at least attractive enough to get the kind of deal that he wants.

“I think Arsenal are still sort of weighing up their options, they perhaps haven’t pushed hard enough as he and his advisers would have liked. A different situation to Alexis Sanchez, who has very much made up his mind he is going to be off.”

 

Ozil’s form has improved in recent weeks. While some believe he’s putting himself in the shop window, it’s possible that he’s playing for his Arsenal future.

It’s difficult to imagine a scenario where the Gunners wouldn’t want to keep him, but they could be hesitating over high wage demands. Ozil’s supposed lofty contract requests have been an issue for Manchester United as well, according to various reports.

The midfielder has been linked with United and a move back to Spain. Honigstein, though, doesn’t think there’s anything to the reports. “Mesut Ozil still wants to stay and I’m not sure he will find a better setup for him,” he said. 

“I don’t think there is necessarily an option in the Premier League available, I don’t buy all these stories about Mourinho and Man United being interested in him, I just don’t think that’s credible. 

“Then you have to look at going back to Spain where he’s already been at Real Madrid, that makes things complicated or back to Germany where I don’t think there is much of a market for him right now. 

“So I think he wants to say and I think Arsenal in the end will decide that he is, even at a higher wage, still a cheaper option to sign for free effectively than looking for a replacement.”

It seems like the ball is firmly in Arsenal’s court. Arsene Wenger said he was confident Ozil could be convinced to stay, but he has to back that up with a good contract offer.

With Alexis not performing, Ozil is becoming even more essential to the side. He proved to be the difference against Newcastle thanks to his volleyed winner. Before then, he had turned a precarious 1-0 lead over Huddersfield to a 4-0 lead within five minutes by providing a goal and two assists.

If Arsenal want to keep him, and the midfielder wants to stay, a deal should be done. Until then, there’s bound to be more speculation about a move to United or Barcelona.

Ozil has three goals and five assists in the Premier League this season. Arsenal will be relying on him against Liverpool on Friday, with Alexis Sanchez struggling for form, as well as Alexandre Lacazette being short of goals in recent weeks.