Arsenal legend Paul Merson admits he has been shocked by Unai Emery’s treatment of Mesut Ozil.
The former Real Madrid playmaker has effectively been frozen out by the Spaniard, despite having made the 30-year-old one his five club captains and his status as Arsenal’s highest earner.
Ozil, who commands a salary of £350,000-a-week, has made just two appearances so far this season and has been omitted from the matchday squads for the recent fixtures against Manchester United, Standard Liege and Bournemouth.
With several of Arsenal’s top four rivals struggling at present, Merson believes Emery should be making more use of his most naturally gifted player ahead of a run of winnable games, but admits, having taken a stand, it would be near impossible for him to perform a U-turn.
He told the Daily Star: ‘Mesut Ozil should be starting Arsenal ’s next few games so they can take advantage of how badly Tottenham and Manchester United are struggling.
‘Arsenal have to make hay while the sun shines and their rivals are struggling, so they have got to put some points together in these games and go on a run.
‘It’s a big few weeks for them – and that’s why I would play Ozil. I personally think he’s their best player.
‘In terms of ability and talent he’s the best player at the club.
‘He’s a luxury player, and the manager has obviously decided he can’t carry a player like that in a team that’s already one of the worst around without the ball.
‘Unai Emery should bring him in from the cold. But he won’t.
‘If he plays Ozil and they win, he has to keep playing him, and the manager doesn’t want that. The manager wants him out.
‘And if that’s the plan then they are going to have to swallow a pill and get rid of him in January come what may.
‘Emery has been getting good performances out of Dani Ceballos, Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson.
‘But I thought Ozil was Arsenal’s best player against Watford and he hasn’t played since. That shocked me to be honest.’
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