Arsenal star Mesut Ozil wants to stay at the club and fight his way back into the starting lineup amid rumours of a loan move in the January window.
The season has not been going well for Mesut Ozil. Injuries, lack of appearances and a visible loss in form has affected the player in many ways imaginable. ESPN is now reporting that the former Germany International will reject any loan offers and stay at the club. Moreover, Ozil is determined to fight and win back his place as a regular in Unai Emery’s side.
Arsenal fans are getting used to not seeing Ozil in the matchday squad or the starting lineup far too frequently this season. In fact, the German has not been an automatic starter in Emery’s lineup, and the many niggling injuries he has faced this season has resulted in him missing plenty of games.
Many times when he has been fit enough to play, Emery has kept the star man out of the lineup citing tactical reasons. In recent months, Ozil has ended up missing some crucial games including the North London Derby and Arsenal’s recent loss to Liverpool. Till now Emery has taken the cover of injury and tactics to make excuses for Ozil’s shortcomings, but now things are pretty clear to many.
The final straw as many believe was his half-time withdrawal against Brighton, as Arsenal finished the game 1-1. Since then, there have been rumours Arsenal are looking to offload him and free up much of his £3,50,000 weekly wage. Ozil only signed a long-term contract with Arsenal last January, and many corners are mooting a loan deal might be in the pipeline.
There were earlier reports of Arsenal looking to swap Ozil for Real Madrid’s Isco, but those were merely far-fetched rumours. Furthermore, other reports suggested Arsenal might look to offload Ozil in a £25 million cut-price deal, but there doesn’t seem to be many suitors who’d want the Arsenal star, given his wage demands.
However, sources now claim the playmaker is set to reject any advances that might come in, especially if it’s a loan deal from any other club. Instead, Ozil wants to return to Arsenal’s prime fold and ensure he is firmly placed in Unai Emery’s plans for the rest of the season. Emery had earlier denied a sale based on his wages, but Ozil has to perform at his best to retain the coach’s trust again.
The theory that has been playing along states Arsenal are prepared to keep Aaron Ramsey until the end of the season and believe the Welshman might not make any move in January. That lets them open the doors for a possible exit for Ozil, possibly till the end of the season, as they are not confident they can sell the German outright considering his wage demands and a possible transfer fee.
As for Ozil, time might be ticking on his Arsenal career, but the player still holds a reputation of a big player. Some of his performances have been magnificent this season, but the level of consistency has been atrocious. Time for Ozil to prove his doubters wrong and the biggest of them all is Unai Emery.
