Martin Keown believes that Mesut Ozil is currently playing as if he wants to leave Arsenal.
- Ozil ‘demanding’ £300kpw
- Keown believes Ozil doesn’t play for teammates anymore
- Arsenal could cash in if Ozil doesn’t sign new deal
While Ozil hasn’t been fantastic lately, he’s far from the only Arsenal player not pulling their weight.
The playmaker has become an easy scapegoat for the media, some fans and, it seems, former players, when results don’t go Arsenal’s way.
Ex-Gunner, Keown, reckons that the German has given up on his teammates and looks as if he’s ready to leave.
“Arsenal are simply carrying Mesut Ozil and they cannot afford to do so,” Keown wrote for the Daily Mail.
“It is very clear that he is not giving everything to the cause. It looks as if Ozil has given up on his teammates.
“I don’t know whether he is trying to sulk his way to a move. Who does he think he is kidding with his performances?
“He is supposed to be Arsenal’s most influential player, their playmaker but against Tottenham he was just jogging around the pitch.”
Ozil’s future at Arsenal remains in doubt. His current deal expires next season and considering how much the Gunners paid for him (£42.5m), if he doesn’t extend his contract soon, they’ll reportedly look to cash in on him this summer.
Some reports claim that the 28-year-old is set to sign a new deal worth £250kpw – an £110kpw rise on his current wages – while others say that he’s ‘demanding’ £300kpw.
Negotiations are set to resume in the summer.