Germany coach Joachim Low said that Mesut Ozil was given permission by Arsenal to travel to Berlin.
“It’s anyone’s guess whether he was partying or not,” Low said, during a pre game conference before his side face Australia in a friendly.
“He has told me that he was in Berlin. I spoke to him and he said that he was weakened by a cold during last week and so Arsene Wenger and Ozil together took the decision to not play him at the weekend. After the match, he was allowed to fly to Berlin.”
Mesut Ozil was in the papers this week as he was found partying in a Berlin after he was rested for Arsenal’s game against Newcastle citing a cold. It seems Ozil cannot get away from the glare of the media, whether he is on the field or off it!
Another Arsenal player that Low touched upon was on loan striker Lukas Podolski, who is having a tough time in Italy.
“I saw his match against Cesena in the stadium and then spoke to Lukas the following day,” Low said. “The match [a 1-1 draw in which Podolski set up a goal on March 15] was revived when he came on at half time. He is overall in better physical shape, but of course he has had initial difficulties in Italy.”
Low added: “Lukas has always been there for us in the last 11 years. He gave it his all for the team. He played a load of games [121], and scored many goals [47]. And he still has a lot of quality — age has not taken its toll.”
It looks like Arsene Wenger was right to drop him for the Arsenal team, despite the fan backlash at what was viewed as not utilising their most potent striker. But Podolski hasn’t done himself any favours after his move to Inter Milan, having not scored a single goal since his move.
However, Low said that his team is fully behind the striker and will do whatever they can to help him regain his form.
“He has our full support behind him. This will help him at his club, wherever he will be playing,” Low said. “It’s important for him that he gets to play regularly and plays well.”
“There is a lot of competition in his position,” he said. “And once we get closer to France it is about getting minutes and having good form.”