Arsenal legend Charlie Nicholas has urged his old club to sell both Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi this summer.
The Sky Sports pundit also claimed Mustafi is “not cut out” to be an Arsenal player.
Both German internationals have face criticism in recent seasons for their contributions to the club, with Mustafi made a particular scapegoat for Arsenal’s defensive failings.
Meanwhile Ozil’s £350,000-per-week salary continues to be a stick to beat the midfielder with, as has caused difficulties for the club in negotiations with other players.
Nicolas said: “The problems still facing Arsenal is how do we get Mesut Ozil out the building with the wages he’s on?
(Image: PA)
“Will he stay and play just because he’s on big money? How do we start to get players like Shkodran Mustafi out the door when they’re on big money?”
Both Ozil and Mustafi appear to have been offered a resurgence under Mikel Arteta following his appointment, though their futures remain uncertain.
Their contracts are both due to expire next summer, and it is unlikely that Arsenal will offer either player an extension.
That means both players, who cost a combined total of around £80m, will be allowed to leave for nothing.
And Nicholas feels there is a bigger problem Arsenal must address first to ensure they are not left in a similar position in future.
He added: “We’ve had a problem at the top level for a long time. And dare I say it even goes back as far as David Dein [who left in 2008] not being present any more.
“We have a problem with identifying players. Then what we did is we started paying £30 million, £40m for Mustafi and defenders who in all honesty, no disrespect to them it’s only my opinion, are not cut out for Arsenal and have not been good enough.
“So they’ve been buying wrong. The players then realise they are not a threat to win the Premier League or we’re out of the Champions League.
“So the hierarchy have got it all wrong.”
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