Martin Keown has told Mesut Ozil ‘he needs to look at himself’ after the Arsenal star hit out at the critics who don’t know the truth behind his situation.
The former Real Madrid playmaker has been left out of the last three matchday squads altogether, despite commanding a salary of £350,000-a-week.
In total, Ozil has missed over 100 games since signing for Arsenal in 2013 through a combination of illness, injury and Emery’s belief he is ill-suited to playing against certain types of opposition.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Athletic yesterday, Ozil insisted he had valid reasons for missing so many games and admitted he was disappointed at the way in which he has been treated.
Keown, however, insists there is only one man who should be shouldering the blame and conceded it is embarrassing for his old club to be left in a scenario whereby their highest earner has been deemed unselectable.
He told talkSPORT: ‘It’s embarrassing for the football club that he is not featuring for Arsenal. He has to take a look at himself. It can’t be everybody elses fault.
‘I don’t care what he’s earning to play for the club it’s an honour to play and while you are there you make your mark.
‘At the moment is he setting a good example in training? As a senior player I would make sure that the youngsters would follow on.
‘I would graft, I would work, give everything I could. I would be collective and help the group around me.
‘I wouldn’t be talking about me. He’s looking about and saying I’m not playing now so don’t blame me.
‘Well, no! It’s about the collective it’s not about you. How do we get you in the team now to get you back in the group. That’s the next step for Ozil now. The opportunity is there.
‘I don’t see him saying anywhere he is desperate to play. For me, the oxygen every weekend was to be in that team and I would bust a gut and I want to see that from Ozil.’
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