With just months remaining on his contract and with speculation rife over his future, Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has moved to silence the doubters.
The German international will see his current deal expire at the end of the season, and there has been no public suggestion as of yet that he’s close to penning a renewal.
In turn, as it stands he’ll leave on a free transfer in the summer, but he isn’t thinking that far ahead and is solely focused on what is directly in front of him.
“I’m happy here, and I do my job to 100 per cent as I always have. I give everything and leave it all on the pitch for the team,” he told Sky Sports.
“The most important thing is football. I want to give everything, 100 per cent for this club. It’s important for me to give my all and enjoy playing as well. Whatever else happens, we will see in the future.”
Ozil made a timely return to form in the 5-2 win over Everton last weekend, finding the back of the net and producing his first assist of the season at Goodison Park.
While some will argue that he has been made a scapegoat for Arsenal’s troubles in general, others will question if he’s worth a lucrative new deal having failed to deliver in so many big games. When he isn’t influencing games from an attacking perspective, the 29-year-old can be somewhat of a defensive liability as his strengths aren’t evident off the ball.
However, he’ll hope to continue to silence his critics in the weeks ahead with more influential performances to help Arsenal climb the Premier League table, but he has raised one specific gripe with Arsene Wenger too over his positioning on the field.
“Everyone knows my favourite position is the playmaker, the No 10, at the moment the coach plays me on the right and it’s a thing I need to accept and to show my quality in that position.”
Ozil makes a fair point in that he should be played in his most effective role where he feels most comfortable, as perhaps that could see him be even more crucial to Arsenal. However, Wenger has his reasons, and he’ll hope that his side can deliver against Swansea City on Saturday.