Football

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta responds to Mesut Ozil statement after Premier League squad snub


The German appears to have played his last game for the Gunners (Picture: Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta insists the decision to leave Mesut Ozil out of Arsenal’s Premier League squad is purely a football decision and is not a reaction to his refusal to take a pay cut.

The World Cup winner – who is the club’s highest earner on £350,000-a-week – appears to have played his last game for the north London club after he was not registered to play in either the Europa League or the Premier League.

Ozil made an emotional post on social media after his omission was confirmed, vowing to keep fighting to save his Arsenal career.

But Arteta appears to have closed the door on the possibility of Ozil playing for Arsenal again, even though he could be registered in January, and has defended the decision to exclude the German.

Speaking on his Zoom press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Europa League clash with Rapid Wien, Arteta said: ‘Everybody is free to express his feeling. My conscious is very calm because I have been very fair with him, my level of communication with him has been very high.

‘I have to try and look everybody in the eye and be comfortable with it. I have this feeling with Mesut.’

He added: ‘Honestly I take full responsibility. I have to be the one getting the best out of the players. It is my responsibility.

‘It is nothing related to any behaviour or pay cuts. It is not true. It’s my decision.’

More to follow…

MORE: ‘Gutted’ Ian Wright sends message to Arsenal outcast Mesut Ozil after Premier League snub

MORE: Mesut Ozil makes promise to Arsenal fans after brutal Mikel Arteta snub

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