It’s looking like Mesut Ozil’s Arsenal career might soon be over as Mikel Arteta is set to omit the German from his 25-man Premier League squad.
This is coming days just days after Arteta omitted him from the Europa League team this campaign
The last time he played for Arsenal was March, shortly after the return of football action from the COVID-19 break. Arsenal attempted to offload Ozil, who has a year left on his £350,000-a-week contract, but he was happy to stay where he was and see out his contract.
He was a notable absentee earlier this month when Arsenal submitted their 25-man Europa League squad.
The same fate looks set to befall the former Real Madrid star in the Premier League, with Arteta experiencing something of a selection headache.
Arteta might give Ozil a lifeline
Meanwhile, Arteta has also given Ozil a life line despite not fielding him for the past seven months.
The Spaniard recently told the 32-year-old to keep working hard in case an opening appears.
The German playmaker and Sokratis have also been excluded from the Europa League squad after he was told he could leave in the summer.
“[Ozil and Sokratis] have to respect that decision, try to train the best possible way, help the team as best they can and see what happens,” the Gunners coach said.
Come January, Ozil will be free to speak to other clubs over signing a pre-contract deal. But it remains to be seen what the future holds for the World Cup winner.
Speaking on the reason for omitting the midfielder from the Europa League squad, Arteta insisted it was a difficult decision.
“Well he wasn’t the only one who’s not in the squad.
“It was a really difficult decision for me to make because to leave players out of the squad at that level where they know they cannot get involved is really tough.
“I don’t like it at all but the decision has to be made because we have a limit on foreign players and unfortunately we have to make that decision.”
Arteta expects a major test from Man City
Arsenal returns to action this weekend, welcoming Manchester City next to the Emirate Stadium. It will give Arteta the opportunity again come face to face with his former mentor Pep Guardiola.
The Citizens lie 14th in the table after picking up four points from their opening three matches and losing 5-2 at home to Leicester.
Arteta, however, expects a major test against them, despite coming into the game off the back of a good win before the international break.
“I think it will be a completely different game,” he said. “City’s approach when they play us will be very different to [Sheffield United’s], very different demands for what we have to do with and without the ball as well.
“I am really happy with the way we managed to win the game and how patient we were, and the improvements compared with last year against this type of opposition but again, we know the level of difficulty at Manchester City will be another level.
“They are still producing incredible numbers in everything that they are doing. In my opinion, they have been really unlucky with some of the results they got because they should have put games to bed very early in those games, and then the level of efficiency of the opponents when they had half chances have punished them a lot.
“But I haven’t seen any decrease in the level of the way they are playing or in what they are producing game by game. I haven’t seen any of that.”
