The poor relationship between Unai Emery and playmaker Mesut Ozil is no secret, and the players most recent behaviour underlines just how fractious things have become.
Ozil, who has always been a key part of plans at both domestic and international level, has seen his minutes dramatically reduced under new boss Unai Emery whose high energy brand of football evidently does not accommodate the minimal efforts of the club’s highest paid player.
And it now seems his attitude on the pitch has now transferred into his life off it.
Ozil was due to appear in Arsenal’s game against Huddersfield Town last weekend but failed to show after reporting sick.
Rather alarmingly this most recent absence means he’s now missed more games due to illness, injuries and failing to make the team sheet than he’s made appearances for the club this season (via the Daily Mail).
How exactly is Emery meant to run Arsenal like this, you ask? He isn’t.
It’s unlikely that the new man will tolerate any further controversies after given the German more than enough opportunities to revive his career in north London. And, for us, it’s a real shame to see a player of Ozil’s quality drop out of contention in such a way, especially considering he’s done so much for the club since arriving from Real Madrid for a record-fee back in 2013.
However, 214 games, 41 goals and 73 assists later, Mesut Ozil looks set to be shown the door at the next opportunity, and whether he engineered the move or not, he’ll always be considered one of their finer players.
