Mesut Ozil has ‘mentally left’ and ‘downed tools’ at Arsenal, blasts legend Martin Keown
Sponsored by
MARTIN KEOWN has accused Mesut Ozil of downing tools on Arsenal.
Former Gunners defender Keown claims Ozil is so keen to quit the Emirates Stadium he has already "mentally left the football club".
The Germany World Cup winner is in the final year of his contract in North London and showing no signs of agreeing to extend his stay at the club.
And Arsenal are now getting closer to making the former Real Madrid star available for sale in January to avoid losing him on a free transfer next summer.
Keown is convinced Ozil has already decided he is on his way - and in a damning assessment he says the playmaker doesn't fancy putting in the effort any more.
Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, Keown said: "I think he's testing Wenger more than any other player has.
"I think it was Belarus the other week, he didn't fancy going. He didn't want to go.
"Suddenly he was injured again, he played nine minutes against West Bromwich Albion on the Monday, so how did he get injured there?
"I think in some departments he's already left. Psychologically, mentally, he's already left the football club.
"Maybe Wenger is now trying to do the best deal he can to get some compensation for him."
Latest Arsenal news
Ozil's season has been another disappointment as he struggles for form and fitness.
Having played every second of the opening four matches of the campaign, the rest of the time has been spent out of form, injured or on the bench.
The £42.5million signing has failed to appear in either of Arsenal's two Europa League matches - and also missed out the crunch goalless draw at Chelsea.
He returned from a knee injury against West Brom off the bench but has not been seen since, as Wenger begins to find options without one of his biggest signings.
Keown added: "I think Wenger doesn't want that sort of player around the youngsters in the group.
"They played exceptionally well at Chelsea, where Iwobi did a really manful job – I know he hasn't got the talent of Ozil, of course, but suddenly Arsenal could compete in both departments defensively and attacking-wise.
"It was probably the best performance I've seen in a couple of years.
"I was really impressed and it seemed like every player was giving their best.
"Sanchez is different. He loves playing football, just give him a ball and he'll play and that's all he wants to do.
"But Ozil, I think he's downed tools, he wants to go and it's going to get messy."
Most read in football
The summer transfer window was one the craziest we have ever seen.
Take a look at the most profitable transfers of ALL time.
And here are the Premier League players whose wages made them the most expensive per minute played.