After months of speculation about a potential Arsenal exit, Mesut Ozil put all the rumours to bed when he eventually put pen to paper on a new long-term contract.
And, unsurprisingly, Arsenal supporters could not help but let out their excitement when the announcement was officially made on 1 February 2018.
THE EMIRATES LEGEND!
Thank you, @MesutOzil1088 pic.twitter.com/CLQiXvFbHz
— TheArseneView (@TheArseneView) February 1, 2018
ONE OF BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE pic.twitter.com/Ga7OunDMbH
— Quícksílver (@DashOfBellerin) 1 February 2018
THE BEST pic.twitter.com/wrrOUBQvXF
— GoonerViews (@GoonerViews) February 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/ltarsenal/status/959106630125170689
oh yeah!!!! #WeveGotOzil , thank you arsenal you just made me emotional after long time #COYG
— Asbin Ghimire (@AsbinGhimire607) 1 February 2018
He’s finally put pen to paper. He stays with us in despair. He’s the greatest player in the history of Emirates era. Tears down my eyes. GOOAATTT.
— Kshitij Korla (@TheInsaneGooner) 1 February 2018
Signing of the season #WeveGotÖzil
— Richard (@richardbrown31) February 1, 2018
First legend of the Emirates era #YaGunnersYa
— Gooner_esque (@gunner_winnie) 1 February 2018
Having just lost Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United and with pressure mounting on Arsene Wenger with results not being good enough, Ozil’s extension and commitment came as a huge relief to all of those at the club.
A year later, however, the decision to give the 30-year-old that new deal, especially at £350,000-a-week (BBC Sport), now looks like a silly one.
This season, Ozil has not been an automatic starter while, of late, Unai Emery has not even afforded him a place on the bench when fit.
With so much still to play for, Emery could yet turn to Ozil in the coming weeks, something he should strongly be considering after Arsenal’s embarrassing 1-0 loss to BATE Borisov last Thursday with the German being the sort of player the team could have done with on the night.
Until that happens, though, that Ozil contract can only be described as a massive mistake.
