Ozil feels unwelcome and unwanted. So is there a way out for him and Arsenal? : Gunners
So a rough timeline of what we know has happened since the lockdown would be:
Had a newborn, and was granted some time off by the club
Once he returned to training, there were questions over his fitness and commitment
Dropped for City completely in the hope of getting a reaction
Bought back to the squad but unused for the next two games
Got a back injury (which Ornstein said was geniuine)
Returned to full training but completely left out since
He has definitely broken one of Arteta’s non-negotiables and deserves to be dropped imo. But he isn’t going to leave this summer, absolutely no chance so he will be here for another year.
If he turns up to pre-season training (in whatever form that is going to be this season) and works hard, shows his commitment and really puts the effort in then he has every chance of being bought back into the team. There isn’t an attitude issue or bust up like Guendouzi, who has been banished from the first team entirely and was training alone.
Before the lockdown, AMN didn’t get minutes for months and Sokratis was ahead of him at RB. Dani didn’t get any minutes under Mikel for a very long time because he wasn’t commited and putting the effort in.
Ozil has also only been back in training for a couple of weeks due to his injury, so hasn’t had the longest opportunity to show Mikel the positive reaction he wanted and show that he was ready to work hard for the team over a season. Dani had to train “like an animal” for a while before being bought back into the squad.
Everyone has to give everything for the club. Arteta has been fair and consistent to every player, including Ozil, and this culture change and these high standards are exactly what we need.
Given how dire we are creatively, if Ozil shows the same passion, work rate and commitment that AMN and Dani showed earlier in the season I would be happy to see him bought back into the squad.
As long as this isn’t the board interfering and trying to force Ozil out and this is Arteta’s decision, I am 100% behind Mikel.
