Since Mesut Ozil joined Arsenal football club in 2013, he has been a source of controversy at the club which is known for being a moderate spender in the transfer market.
The German international formerly held the club’s record of most expensive signing when he joined the club from Real Madrid for £42.4 million 7 years ago.
Though the record has been broken by Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and now Nicolas Pépé, Ozil still remains the highest earner at the club, earning a whopping £350,000 wages per-week.
His wages have also become a source of controversy as the gap between what he has been earning since he renewed his contract with the club in 2018, and what other star players have been earning, is extremely wide.
For instance, the captain of the club and the club highest goal scorer, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang earns about £200,000 making him the second-highest earner at Arsenal.
This means that the difference between what the 28-year-old Arsenal talisman is earning and what the German midfielder is earning is £150,000.
In this light, pundits believe that the wages Mesut Ozil is earning may force the club’s best player Aubameyang to leave the club this summer if the club is not willing to give their captain a similar or even a better deal.
Also, the wages are said to be the reason why clubs who have formally shown interest at the German found it difficult to see their interest through.
Mesut Ozil is a bone in Arsenal’s neck
Still, Mesut Ozil decided to make the club management board more eager to get rid of him when he decided to reject a 12.5 per cent pay cut which other players have accepted.
The 12.5 per cent pay cut was to help the club to remain afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic which has halted football since March.
The 31-year-old Arsenal star reportedly insisted that if he is not told the impact of the pandemic on the finances of the club and what the club intends to do with the amount the club would save from the pay cut, he would not accept it.
Ozil has been widely criticised for this decision while a few have hailed his stance and the reasons he gave for not accepting the pay cut.
However, the decision of the player may force the board of Arsenal to take a drastic decision on the player whose current contract would expire in 2021.
Besides, Ozil will turn 32 in October and his age might make it difficult for Mikel Arteta to put him in his long term plan at the club.
