Mesut Ozil has not featured in any game since the restart (Getty Images)
According to a recent report by The Mirror, Arsenal manager Unai Emery is said to be quite keen on selling German midfield star Mesut Ozil in order to try and fund some of the necessary signings for next term.
While Ozil has been a massive servant to the Gunners over the years, it has been suggested that they are finally ready to cut their losses on the inconsistent star.
The Schalke FC academy product has been one of the most celebrated players of the last decade but his performance levels have certainly taken a fairly big dip over the last few years.
His career began at Schalke before he had his first real Bundesliga breakthrough while at Werder Bremen. The youngster’s inspiring displays for Bremen earned him a much-deserved call up to the Germany team that went to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
After having an excellent effect on the National side, the youngster was signed up by Spanish giants Real Madrid in their bid to build a squad of Galacticos.
Despite making the move for a fairly big price, the German never really hit the maximum heights while at the Bernebau. Having made 105 appearances and scoring 19 goals in the process, Ozil ended his 3-year spell as a Los Blancos player in the summer of 2013.
His move to Arsenal, where he currently earns £350,000-a-week, was seen as a massive signing for the Gunners. His quality on the was undoubted while his ability to pick out passes from massive distances made him an ideal Premier League target.
His creativity would go on to become one of their main attacking outlets in the coming years but he never consistently maintained his full potential at the Emirates.
Supremely precise with his passing and spotting runs from the opposite end of the pitch, the attacking potency that he brings to the side is unquestionable.
Although the Gunners have struggled to make themselves heard in the Premier League title race over the years, Ozil’s attacking creativity has been crucial to any season where they’ve got close. Without his massive efforts in front of goal, they might not even a top-6 club anymore.
This season, his situation at the club has only worsened at things don’t look like they’re going to improve any time soon.
Since Emery took over as the manager at the Emirates stadium, Ozil’s opportunities in the first-team have been quite limited. The manager has preferred to keep him on the bench and this has resulted in his playing just 24 league games this season.
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With just 4 goals and 2 assists to his name all campaign, last season was certainly his darkest in an Arsenal shirt. Now 30, it’s becoming clearer by the day that he doesn’t have the physical strength or conditioning to actually last a full 90 minutes in the Premier League.
The fact that he often goes missing in big games should only come as further motivation for the Gunners to finally sell their over-paid star.