According to The Sun, Arsenal are preparing for life without Mesut Ozil as the club battles with the financial crisis inflicted by the Coronavirus pandemic. The playmaker’s current contract expires in 2021, and there is a chance he could leave the club this summer or next year, for a free transfer. And in this article, we will discuss three reasons why offloading Ozil could be the right decision for Arsenal.
Ozil has endured a steady decline
Ozil is, without a doubt, one of the most gifted playmakers in world football. However, in recent years, he has failed to make full use of his talent and deliver on the pitch. Especially following the departure of Arsene Wenger, the German notably fell out with Unai Emery.
As a result, he was only involved in 24 Premier League matches last season. Ozil registered only two assists from those 24 matches, which is the lowest tally of his professional career. And even though the ex-Real Madrid star has greatly improved under new manager Mikel Arteta, his productivity has further deteriorated.
Indeed, the playmaker has only been involved in three goals in 18 matches this season, which is unacceptable for a player of his calibre. Ozil’s steady decline, therefore, is one of the reasons why Arsenal should consider selling the German.
A vision for the future
If Arteta is to usher in a new era at the Emirates, he must make some tough decisions. It also includes the potential sale of Ozil, whose presence in the team could prevent younger players from enjoying a more prominent role in the team. Joe Willock, for example, is yet to make a breakthrough in the starting eleven due to Ozil often being preferred in the number ten role.
At the age of 31, the Arsenal star is already in the final phase of his career. He won’t certainly provide any prospect for the future, and with that in mind, it is time for the Gunners to prepare for life without their star playmaker. It can help Arteta opt for a younger alternative, who will be better fitted to his tactical style.
A major transfer boost
Ozil bags a whopping £350k a week, which has unsurprisingly ushered in friction within the squad. Just to put this into perspective, the underperforming playmaker earns 75% more than the club’s highest goalscorer in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gabonese international has already been linked with a move away from Emirates. However, the potential departure of Ozil could provide Arsenal with the financial leverage that, in turn, could help them convince the ex-Dortmund star to prolong his stay at the club. Not to mention, Ozil’s sale will also help them balance the financial structure of the club, ultimately allowing Arteta to sign top-class players from the transfer market.
