Recent reports have linked Mesut Özil with a move away from Arsenal this summer, claiming Arsene Wenger’s management was the main reason he wanted to leave (via The Sun). The German playmaker has quickly moved to quash these rumours though, taking to Twitter to rubbish the reports.
“Have seen the media reports today,” he wrote.
“Arsene Wenger was a big reason for me joining Arsenal – this hasn’t changed! #Respect #AFC.”
Have seen the media reports today. Arsène Wenger was a big reason for me joining Arsenal – this hasn’t changed! #Respect #AFC
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) March 22, 2016
Arsene Wenger was one of the main reasons Özil joined Arsenal in the first place, with the manager putting in a huge amount of effort to ensure the World Cup winner made the switch to north London. He personally phoned the former Real Madrid man, speaking to him in his native language in order to convince him Arsenal was where he belonged (via The Telegraph).
Özil has always spoken highly of Wenger, so to suggest that Wenger’s continued presence at the club would be a problem for the 27-year-old is ridiculous.
“Our game centres around playing good, technical football and that’s good,” Özil once said (via the Mirror).
“It’s thanks to the manager because he’s worked on that for years and has formulated a technically-gifted team that can dominate any opposition.
“That’s why we’re really pleased to have a manager like him.
“He knows exactly how I tick and I know exactly what he thinks of me.
“I get on really well with him and he gives me his trust. I’m thankful to him for that and to be praised by a coach like him means a lot.”
Most fans will have already known that the reports were rubbish, as while it’s not impossible to think that Özil might be evaluating his options ahead of the end of the season, citing Wenger as the reason is downright ludicrous.
Özil has been a standout performer for Arsenal this season and it would be a real blow for them to lose him. Wenger remaining manager of the club could actually convince him to stay, and despite a number of fans wanting Wenger gone, very few (if any) would want to see the back of Özil.
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Arsenal really need to be keeping hold of their top talent rather than letting them go, and if Özil were to leave it would be a massive step backwards for an already struggling club.