Mesut Ozil is in the final year of his contract (Getty)

Mesut Ozil should be left out of the Arsenal side to play Watford this weekend, Paul Merson has suggested.

The suggestion comes with the German yet again becoming the focus of criticism after a slow start to the season in which he is yet to score or assist.

In addition, after a shaky start to the campaign, Arsenal’s form has seen an upturn which has coincided with Ozil being absent through injury.

The World Cup winner is again available for selection but Arsenal legend Merson believes Arsene Wenger should take the extreme action of excluding him from the starting line-up on Saturday.

‘I wouldn’t put Mesut Ozil back into the side,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘He doesn’t work hard enough for the team. He is a top player but the least you can do is work hard. If you have got talent you have had a result – and he has talent – but I have seen players with much less talent than him have a bigger impact on games, which can’t be right.’

Arsenal 2017/18 fixtures

Huddersfield (A) - Sun May 13

Ozil in training (Getty)

The Gunners head into the weekend on the back of four successive wins but they could find it hard against Watford, according to Merson.

‘This is a hard game for Arsenal. It would be a big result if Arsenal won here. I know Man City scored six at Watford but Arsenal are not in the same class.’

MORE : Michael Owen’s Premier League predictions, including Watford v Arsenal

MORE : Arsene Wenger admits ‘it’s possible’ Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez could leave in January