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Mikel Arteta appears to have opened the door for Mesut Ozil to return to the Arsenal team in January, but claims that no decision has been made on the German’s future.
The Gunners are currently fighting in front of goal after having scored just twice in their last seven league games, with German playmaker Ozil out of the Gunners’ 25-man squad for both the Premier League and Europa League.
Arteta could re-register the 32-year-old in the January transfer window, but he would have to reorganize his squad as they rank 15th on the top flight table.
The Arsenal manager told reporters ahead of his team’s game with Burnley on Sunday: ‘He’s not in the squad at the moment. I am only focusing on the players we have here.
“But whatever happens in January, we have some time to decide.”
Ozil has not played for Arsenal since the coronavirus pandemic halted the Premier League season in March. Arteta didn’t even name the midfielder on the bench despite Ozil being signed up last season.
The 32-year-old currently has a £ 350,000-a-week contract in North London ending at the end of this season, with Ozil set to leave the Gunners on a free transfer.
Ozil could even move in January with Turkish Fenerbahce interested in the 32-year-old, with Inter Miami and LA Galaxy controlling the German’s situation.
Former Arsenal manager Freddie Ljungberg, who was interim manager before Arteta’s arrival 12 months ago, does not understand why Ozil has been exiled and believes the German could help the Gunners in goal.
The Swede told Sky Sports this week: ‘When you have a player like that, and I’m not saying you have to play every week, but when you have possession and you need to find that nice pass, I don’t think there are better players than Mesut doing that .
Of course you lose a bit defensively, but it is a decision they have made. I don’t know why the decision was made and he’s out of the 25-man squad so they can’t use him. But for those things, I don’t think there are many better ones in the world. ‘
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger also questioned Arteta’s decision to make Ozil an outcast.
The German midfielder was a fan favorite when Wenger was the club’s manager, but has not been able to regain his excellent form under the Frenchman’s successor Unai Emery and Arteta.
Wenger told ESPN this week: ‘He (Ozil) was not difficult to handle. He was a guy who had a special quality as a creative gamer and needed to have fun.
‘He’s an artist and these guys are a little more sensitive. They need support and an environment that encourages them to do their best.
You have two ways of seeing a soccer team. You get everyone to do the same. The same intensity of work, the same defensive work or you find a compromise, ‘he added.
“You have a more creative player on the team who can do less defensive work, but you build a team around him that can make up for these shortcomings. That’s what you have to think about.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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