Martin Keown predicts Arsenal will have ‘messy’ split with Mesut Ozil
The Arsenal legend expects the Gunners to endure a messy divorce with their prized asset Mesut Ozil
Martin Keown believes Arsenal will have to endure a “messy end” to Mesut Ozil’s spell at the Emirates Stadium.
The Germany international continues to be linked with a potential exit in the January transfer window, although the attacking midfielder could leave for nothing next summer.
Ozil has failed to agree a new contract with north London side so far to raise the possibility of the 28-year-old leaving on a free transfer at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.
Worryingly for Arsenal fans, Ozil has been linked with a potential switch to their bitter Premier League rivals Manchester United in recent weeks in January.
Serie A giants Inter Milan are also rumoured to be interested in a deal to sign the World Cup winner in the next transfer window as Ozil’s future remains up in the air.
Ozil has only made one start in seven games since his disastrous performance in a 4-0 loss to top-four rivals Liverpool at Anfield at the end of August.
The German midfielder has been struggling with a knee injury, although he made a cameo appearance in a 2-0 win against West Brom before being omitted from the squad for last weekend’s 2-0 victory over Brighton.
Former Arsenal defender Keown admitted that he believes Arsenal and Ozil will endure an uncomfortable divorce.
“There was always going to be a messy ending with Ozil and Arsenal,” Keown told the Daily Mail.
“I predicted this would happen at the start of last season. As soon as you give Sanchez a ball, his love of football will mean that he would play.
“With Ozil, we saw last season that he might not be as reliable. It was an indication of what was to follow.
“Arsene Wenger must be questioning whether Ozil’s injury is genuine. There did not seem to be anything wrong with him during his nine-minute cameo against West Brom but three days later he did not travel to Belarus.
“Ozil must have given Wenger an indication that he did not want to follow. I cannot imagine that Wenger would have wanted to have a player who did not want to be there around the 18-year-olds he took with him.
“Of course, there is every chance that Ozil might be injured. He has not been selected in the Germany squad. But would you pick him on current form?”
